Carving out a lucrative niche for herself as a sort of
fun-utility-sport-girl-hair thing, the 34-year-old Thompson has a wealth of
experience across a range of sports. Still, the suspicion remains that Sky
deploy her largely on aesthetic merit. Otherwise, why put her on the
‘magazine’ show rather than give her a shot at the main presenting gig?
Reporter: Ted Kravitz
Another BBC signing, Kravitz has become a fixture in the pit lane over the
last few years, and has a gift for explaining the most esoteric of concepts
(diffusers, gauges, various carbon-based implements) in an easily-digestible
style. Random true fact: Kravitz’s real name is Theodore Slotover.
Reporter: Natalie Pinkham
A tabloid staple due to her former trysts with Prince Harry, Pinkham was
controversially appointed as Five Live’s pit lane reporter last season, and
remarkably did not entirely suck. Now she’s in her second season as an F1
reporter, though, she should probably change the sentence on her official
website that reads: “I love all sports, but particularly football,
tennis, rugby and athletics.”
Practice session analyst: Anthony Davidson
Former F1 driver, who raced in 24 Grands Prix for Minardi, BAR and Super Aguri
and was a reserve driver for Mercedes this season. Has been a Five Live
commentator for the last three seasons, so it will be interesting to see if
Sky have planned anything more ambitious for him than analysing practice
sessions.
Interviewer: Steve Rider
For some reason, Sky have signed one of the best sports presenters in Britain
and then consigned him to Bernie-Ecclestone-yacht duty. Will present a
series of features and interviews over the course of the season, and Lazenby
might well be able to pick up a few tips from Rider’s natural ease in front
of the camera.