If you are one of the more ‘hardcore’ F1 fans who avidly watches the Friday and Saturday practice sessions then you’ll probably be familiar with the voices and brilliant banter of David Croft and Anthony Davidson. Badger was lucky enough to catch up with them both at the launch of the new Formula 1 game for the Nintendo Wii and Playstation PSP (due out on November 20th). They kindly gave us a demonstration and took to the ‘track’ at Abu Dhabi, with Davidson finishing first and Croft finishing 19th just ahead of ‘Nelson Piquet Jr’ in last place (what a shocker).  Check out the exclusive video here.

As well as the practice session coverage, Davidson and Croft also do the commentary for the BBC’s 5Live Formula 1 radio broadcast, and they confess to having a bit of a fun whilst on the job. At the Chinese grand prix this year their 5Live commentary box was right next door to the box of Martin Brundle and Jonathan Legard of the BBC TV commentary, “we were looking round the corner and we could see them all looking really serious, and we were off air at that time, and we went round the corner and went wahey!” Davidson elaborates further on the crazy 5Live commentary antics, “And there was another time, they’ve got a webcam hooked up [in the BBC TV box] all the time, and when they weren’t in there me and Crofty walked in and I was waving at it and being really stupid and a voice came out of it and went ‘Hello Mr Davidson’.” Sounds like the BBC TV team need to take a leaf out of 5Live’s book and lighten things up a bit! Croft even has his 2 year-old son learning the ways of Formula 1. He’s taught him the words ‘Anthony’, ‘Lewis’, ‘Jenson Button’ and … ‘crash’! A commentator in the making perhaps?

One of Croft’s own personal highlights of his very enviable job includes being able to commentate from the luxury of Eddie Jordan’s yacht when Formula 1 arrives at the illustrious Monte Carlo every year. It turns out that the drivers each get their own space in the harbour during the race weekend. “When I was driving a Super Aguri I had my own harbour space … but I didn’t have a boat!” laughs Davidson as he recalls when he was last a driver in Formula 1. Already the test driver for World Champions Brawn GP, he has been linked to several of the new teams for 2010, especially Manor and Lotus. “Hopefully, hopefully. There’s still a long way to go in these negotiations, but hopefully there’ll be something. A lot of teams are actually taking their time this winter to decide [their 2010 drivers]. Even McLaren haven’t decided on a second driver for Lewis.” Davidson talks excitedly about the rule changes for the next season, in particular the refuelling ban. “I like it. You’re going to be starting the race with 170 kilos of fuel. At the moment they start the race at about 80 kilos maximum. Every 10 kilos adds about 3.5 tenths per lap to your lap time. I know 3 seconds doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s massive.” The implications of the refuelling ban haven’t really been thrashed out in the media yet, probably because there have been more than enough headlines this year to keep us busy, but it’s going to make 2010 incredibly challenging (and exciting) not just for rookies, but for returners and veterans alike.

As part of his role with Brawn GP Davidson tells us that at some point he’ll be driving the Championship winning car through the streets of Brackley, the small town in Northamptonshire where the team are based and the locals hang home-made Brawn GP flags out the windows. How very quaint. “It’s been a fantastic year. We never expected it to be this good” says Davidson. He has glowing words for Brawn GP boss, Ross Brawn, “he’s such a top bloke”. Brawn GP secured both the Constructors’ and the Drivers’ titles at the last race in Brazil, and Davidson gives us an insight into what was said at the team’s debriefing in the Brawn garage, “Ross had his wife next to him and he says ‘I’ve been lucky twice in my life. The first… was marrying my wife’ and everyone’s like ‘yeah’, ‘brilliant’, and then he says ‘and then the second was meeting and working with you guys’.” Brawn GP’s achievements this year have indeed been nothing short of extraordinary, and it seems like it couldn’t have happened to a better or more deserving team.

Having driven the Brawn simulator of the Yas Marina circuit and “crashed it like 15 times” (and had a go on the Wii version), Davidson says it looks like a “pretty tough” circuit, especially given the 90-degree left hander in the pit lane exit. “On the simulator I went down there and I went bang straight into the wall. It was like that Austin Powers moment when he’s in that little truck!” Davidson is flying out to Abu Dhabi today ahead of the race this weekend. “It’s going to be amazing this place, and it’s going to look beautiful on TV”, he beams. And does it matter that the championships are already wrapped up? “Not at all. I think it’ll allow people to enjoy the race weekend more, because it’ll just be a one-off race. You’re going to actually see people like Jenson and Lewis going for it, 100%, with nothing to lose at all.” Davidson’s money is on Hamilton for a win at the inaugural Abu Dhabi grand prix. “The car [the McLaren] should be really good round there, and Lewis is really good at reacting to new circuits.” And Jenson? “Without any pressure. Was it him or was it the car? Now we’re going to see”.

If you’re tired of the ‘serious’ BBC TV commentary, then here at the Sett we can whole-heartedly recommend that you tune into the brilliant 5Live coverage during the Abu Dhabi race courtesy of Anthony Davidson and David Croft. Although it would be sad to lose him from 5Live, fingers crossed for Davidson that there will be a space for him on the expanded grid next year. The more British drivers in F1 the merrier we say!

David Croft and Anthony Davidson encouraged all Badger readers to text in any questions during the practice sessions which start on Friday at 9am GMT.  And if you enjoyed this edition of ‘Badger Meets…’ then check out the interviews with Sir Stirling Moss, the entire BBC F1 crew, Martin Brundle, many more …