'More enjoyable than F1’: Nürburgring 24H commentary sparks fan debate online
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Updated: 20:51, 17 May
3 Comments
Savannah Lenz is a Formula 1 journalist at GPblog with a broad interest in motorsport. With experience in content creation and journalism, she delivers accessible and reliable coverage for a global F1 audience.
During the weekend of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, many fans on social media noticed a difference in the commentary between Formula 1 and NLS commentators.
For F1 fans in England, the only way to watch the sport live is through Sky Sports, as F1 and Sky have an exclusivity clause. For fans in the United States, Apple TV is where they get their coverage, thanks to a new partnership that debuted this year.
Other ways to watch F1 include F1TV, Viaplay, DAZN, Canal+, and ESPN. Countries like Austria are not locked into a single provider and can instead choose among Sky Sports, Servus TV, and ORF. Fans' lack of access to a variety of broadcasts has sparked social media backlash, as some providers charge higher prices and offer biased takes.
Max Verstappen participated in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring from 14–17 May 2026, during which fans noted key differences in how the coverage was presented. A majority praised the coverage for being free on YouTube, with many options available. The race organisers themselves ran a livestream while also giving other providers, such as Sky Sports, the opportunity to host their own coverage simultaneously.
Fans react to F1 vs 24H
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One fan on X said, "The GT3 TV/streams commentary makes you realise how biased, unprofessional and uncouth F1 commentary is, and it's so sad. How can we address this F1 commentatory?!"
Fans have often claimed that a 'British' bias exists in Formula 1 for a combination of reasons. It does not help that the sport's history is intertwined with British history, or that most of the F1 teams are based in England.
The "biased" takes from F1 commentators were the most frequently cited complaint on social media, with some fans going so far as to name the British commentators they didn't like. Another fan said, "The vibe in commentary box has been so good throughout the day, these guys are going to be a joy to listen during the race itself. Not something I'd say about F1 commentary..."
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While some fans called out certain providers and commentators, one took aim at F1 commentary altogether. "Any commentary in the world>>F1 commentary 🙏"
It was not all compliments, as some fans had issues understanding the commentary or disliked the on-air interviews during the race
"I can’t with these commentators doing interviews will we watching verstappen onboard driving like it’s simracing"
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"The English commentators for the N24 are so bad… I’ve been having the #3 onboard on with the general English commentary on a second screen and the amount of utter nonsense that’s spouted the last few hours is crazy…"
F1 vs 'real racing'
But the complaints didn't stop there. Another one was the lack of actual race coverage during F1 races. "I gotta say... Watching the Nürburgring 24h is more enjoyable than F1. Uninterrupted racing without 40 camera changes in a minute, relaxed commentary and real engine sounds..."
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The debate around 'real racing' has also been a hot topic since the introduction of the new 2026 F1 regulations. Some motorsport fans believe F1 is moving away from real racing and becoming more like Mario Kart, a sentiment shared by some F1 drivers. The current F1 engine uses a 50/50 power split between the internal combustion engine (ICE) and the hybrid electric battery.
Replying to Verstappen, this fan said, "Great overtakes, code browns and over-excited commentators. Showed F1 that the fun of racing is driving a car, not managing it."
What do you think? Is there an issue with fans being locked into one provider? Do you agree with the statements against certain commentators? Let us know below if you watched the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and if YOU thought the commentary was better or worse!
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