Sean Kelly
@virtualstatman.bsky.social
Formula 1 on-stage host and chief statistician to the TV broadcasters. Making statistics the new rock 'n roll since 2003 🇮🇪 🇬🇧
If we end up with a tie on points, they should decide this F1 title like a talent show. All three drivers come out to the podium and David Croft opens an envelope and says “the winner of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship IS…” #AbuDhabiGP
December 1, 2025 at 9:26 AM
If we end up with a tie on points, they should decide this F1 title like a talent show. All three drivers come out to the podium and David Croft opens an envelope and says “the winner of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship IS…” #AbuDhabiGP
The other part of it is that it's back-to-back race weekends, which is very busy. I worked about 4 hours on the overnight flight to London, did 3 more hours at Heathrow, then another 4-5 hours on the London-Doha flight, and I *still* wasn't finished when I got here at 5:00am on Wednesday morning.
I honestly can't understand how they do this "other side of the world" triple headers. Going West Cost->London leaves me bitchy and tired for 2-3 days. This would kill me.
November 27, 2025 at 10:13 AM
The other part of it is that it's back-to-back race weekends, which is very busy. I worked about 4 hours on the overnight flight to London, did 3 more hours at Heathrow, then another 4-5 hours on the London-Doha flight, and I *still* wasn't finished when I got here at 5:00am on Wednesday morning.
I can’t even begin to tell you how jet lagged I feel after moving forward 11 time zones from the US west coast. Which means there are a LOT of very exhausted personnel in the F1 pit and paddock this weekend. Anyone who says it doesn’t affect them is lying #QatarGP 🇶🇦
November 27, 2025 at 9:13 AM
I can’t even begin to tell you how jet lagged I feel after moving forward 11 time zones from the US west coast. Which means there are a LOT of very exhausted personnel in the F1 pit and paddock this weekend. Anyone who says it doesn’t affect them is lying #QatarGP 🇶🇦
It is also the first time a Ferrari has been slowest in qualifying since Giancarlo Fisichella in Abu Dhabi in 2009 #LasVegasGP
I blame Ferrari atp, this isn’t a coincidence.
That is the first time Lewis Hamilton has been the slowest qualifier on pure pace in his Formula 1 career #LasVegasGP
November 22, 2025 at 4:33 AM
It is also the first time a Ferrari has been slowest in qualifying since Giancarlo Fisichella in Abu Dhabi in 2009 #LasVegasGP
That is the first time Lewis Hamilton has been the slowest qualifier on pure pace in his Formula 1 career #LasVegasGP
November 22, 2025 at 4:29 AM
That is the first time Lewis Hamilton has been the slowest qualifier on pure pace in his Formula 1 career #LasVegasGP
Formula 1 drivers at 200mph on extreme wet tyres and tying to find the grip in qualifying. For all the criticisms that the #LasVegasGP is all style and no substance, this is proper F1 right now...
November 22, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Formula 1 drivers at 200mph on extreme wet tyres and tying to find the grip in qualifying. For all the criticisms that the #LasVegasGP is all style and no substance, this is proper F1 right now...
To all F1 fans in the western time zones of the United States: Does the #LasVegasGP feel like **your** regional home Grand Prix, compared to Austin and/or Miami? I asked this question last year and so many people answered no!
November 21, 2025 at 11:12 PM
To all F1 fans in the western time zones of the United States: Does the #LasVegasGP feel like **your** regional home Grand Prix, compared to Austin and/or Miami? I asked this question last year and so many people answered no!
Seeing this track at 4:30pm local time is SO much better than in full night conditions. That bit of twilight adds that little bit of contrast that allows us to appreciate the incredible surroundings on TV #LasVegasGP
November 21, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Seeing this track at 4:30pm local time is SO much better than in full night conditions. That bit of twilight adds that little bit of contrast that allows us to appreciate the incredible surroundings on TV #LasVegasGP
I’m not in Vegas this weekend, ironically watching from my sofa only driving distance away, despite having flown all over the world to do all the other races this year! #LasVegasGP
November 21, 2025 at 12:30 AM
I’m not in Vegas this weekend, ironically watching from my sofa only driving distance away, despite having flown all over the world to do all the other races this year! #LasVegasGP
Guenther Steiner told me to f*** off yesterday and honestly I feel like my career has now moved onto a different level 😂
October 27, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Guenther Steiner told me to f*** off yesterday and honestly I feel like my career has now moved onto a different level 😂
I gave a little on-stage history lesson about F1 in the US this morning, wearing a real photographer tabard from Watkins Glen 1973, as well as quoting from an original 1974 race programme. I continue to cater for my F1 nerd brethren :) #USGP
October 20, 2025 at 12:02 AM
I gave a little on-stage history lesson about F1 in the US this morning, wearing a real photographer tabard from Watkins Glen 1973, as well as quoting from an original 1974 race programme. I continue to cater for my F1 nerd brethren :) #USGP
There was a reunion of SPEED Channel / NBC Formula 1 alumni when @willbuxton.bsky.social joined me on stage in Austin today. Great days for both of us, then and now! #USGP
October 19, 2025 at 2:34 AM
There was a reunion of SPEED Channel / NBC Formula 1 alumni when @willbuxton.bsky.social joined me on stage in Austin today. Great days for both of us, then and now! #USGP
Your Benetton F1 shirt was much appreciated. All period costumes count double at a Grand Prix!
@virtualstatman.bsky.social tomorrow, I hope you are in the Champions Club to tell me if my Benetton F1 shirt is authentic and the year. I have it down to a two year period and I think it's real.
September 15, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Your Benetton F1 shirt was much appreciated. All period costumes count double at a Grand Prix!
I sure do… and I am sad that Schumacher’s Monza 2003 numbers have been beaten, as that record had been in the book since the first season I worked in this job. It was the stat I was proudest about putting on-air on SPEED Channel, as most other networks had not thought to check it…
@virtualstatman.bsky.social fastest race in F1 history. I bet you have a few stats about the last time that happened. Do you remember where you were and what you were doing 😂😜
September 15, 2025 at 8:38 AM
I sure do… and I am sad that Schumacher’s Monza 2003 numbers have been beaten, as that record had been in the book since the first season I worked in this job. It was the stat I was proudest about putting on-air on SPEED Channel, as most other networks had not thought to check it…
Hello everyone on BlueSky. Clearly i've not been maintaining my social media garden... but i've taken to answering any/all questions on my Instagram Stories, if you want to find me as virtualstatman over there as well :)
September 8, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Hello everyone on BlueSky. Clearly i've not been maintaining my social media garden... but i've taken to answering any/all questions on my Instagram Stories, if you want to find me as virtualstatman over there as well :)
The first *world championship* season was 1950. The first race run to F1 rules was in either 1946 or 1947 depending how you measure :)
@virtualstatman.bsky.social would love to get your view on this. Which year should we consider the first year of F1? Would you say 1946 or 1950?
July 21, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The first *world championship* season was 1950. The first race run to F1 rules was in either 1946 or 1947 depending how you measure :)
I’m not at the F1 movie world premiere in NYC tonight but would like to point out that I have worked on the last 438 consecutive Grand Prix TV broadcasts in the US and have lived in the US full-time since 2007. Some of us were doing F1 in America long before it was fashionable…
June 16, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I’m not at the F1 movie world premiere in NYC tonight but would like to point out that I have worked on the last 438 consecutive Grand Prix TV broadcasts in the US and have lived in the US full-time since 2007. Some of us were doing F1 in America long before it was fashionable…
Wow Dave, you’ve been through the mill. You have to let me know if you’re coming to Silverstone, it would be amazing to meet you!
I went through a 2 week period recently when I didn't even pick up my phone as I was so ill from dying www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I was hoping to make a recovery to attend the British GP for my 50th, but I've taken a few backwards steps with hyperventilating recently, so may not recover in time 😭
I was hoping to make a recovery to attend the British GP for my 50th, but I've taken a few backwards steps with hyperventilating recently, so may not recover in time 😭
'Love conquers all' - Wakefield couple marry on intensive care unit
David Fontana and Joanne Stringfellow married a day after they were told to say their final goodbyes.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 7, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Wow Dave, you’ve been through the mill. You have to let me know if you’re coming to Silverstone, it would be amazing to meet you!
I’ve become so bad at social media haven’t I? I used to be prolific and now I’m swamped with so much to do that it kinda falls by the wayside. Sorry folks.. I promise I will come back to it eventually!
June 7, 2025 at 9:07 AM
I’ve become so bad at social media haven’t I? I used to be prolific and now I’m swamped with so much to do that it kinda falls by the wayside. Sorry folks.. I promise I will come back to it eventually!
There will be no remnants of the Grand Prix, but you will be surrounded by the setup for the Monaco Yacht Show which uses the same space on the harbour
I’ll be there in September. Do they always leave no trace, or might I still see some remnants?
June 2, 2025 at 2:47 PM
There will be no remnants of the Grand Prix, but you will be surrounded by the setup for the Monaco Yacht Show which uses the same space on the harbour
In case you wondered what Monaco looks like eight days after the Grand Prix
June 2, 2025 at 2:40 PM
In case you wondered what Monaco looks like eight days after the Grand Prix
Here's a fun picture. My NBC colleagues in the hotel bar after the #MonacoGP back in 2013. Among them are two people who would go on to be the lead announcers for the #Indianapolis500 on US television, neither of whom were born in the US: Leigh Diffey (2018-2024) and Will Buxton (2025)
May 25, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Here's a fun picture. My NBC colleagues in the hotel bar after the #MonacoGP back in 2013. Among them are two people who would go on to be the lead announcers for the #Indianapolis500 on US television, neither of whom were born in the US: Leigh Diffey (2018-2024) and Will Buxton (2025)
I'd also like to acknowledge our longtime F1 colleague @willbuxton.bsky.social on the biggest day of his professional life, calling the Indianapolis 500 for FOX. Hope it's a great one :) #Indy500
May 25, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I'd also like to acknowledge our longtime F1 colleague @willbuxton.bsky.social on the biggest day of his professional life, calling the Indianapolis 500 for FOX. Hope it's a great one :) #Indy500
May 25, 2025 at 3:57 PM