NASCAR insider reveals being ‘today years old’ when he learned British media’s F1 jargon

Bob Pockrass, a renowned NASCAR journalist with over 30 years of field experience, has yet to pick up British F1 jargon. Following Lewis Hamilton’s unbelievable Q1 exit in the Abu Dhabi GP qualifying, Pockrass took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and expressed his thoughts on learning the word “bollard.”

A bollard is a short yet sturdy vertical post used in Formula 1 to indicate sharp corners so that the drivers don’t overdrive them. Even if they do, these bollards are designed to break on impact and thus reduce the damage caused to the vehicle.

Pockrass raised eyebrows when he came across the words “stray bollard” in a recent X post by Formula One. He shared the post, saying,

“I was today years old when I learned what to call one of these lane divider things.”

Had it not been for the bollard through turn 14, perhaps Hamilton’s placing for Q2 would have been a lot better than P18. The 39-year-old was unfortunate enough to collect the bollard dislodged by Kevin Magnussen as the latter veered into the inside while making the final corners.

The Abu Dhabi GP will mark Hamilton’s last race under the banner of Mercedes. The seven-time world champion is expected to join Ferrari next year. Fans can watch the race on December 8, from 8 am ET onwards. Live streaming will be available on ESPN+, Fubo, Hulu, Sling TV, YouTube TV, and F1 TV.

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Back when Bob Pockrass revealed why he loves covering NASCAR

Bob Pockrass is one of the most revered insiders in the world of NASCAR. After spending years covering NASCAR for ESPN and Sporting News, he joined FOX in 2019. Notably, Pockrass has been around for 30 Daytona 500s. But what is it that keeps him so glued to the sport?

Pockrass believes it’s the fans that motivate him to keep giving them that inside scoop. In a 2023 interview with First Coast News, the NASCAR vet said,

“That's all the motivation I need to continue to try to put out information because you know you kind of gave them something to talk about. You gave them some information that they didn't know that they found interesting. So when fans come up to me, I love that.” (1:41)

There is no denying that NASCAR is an entertainment sport. After all, it generated an annual revenue of $820 million in 2024 alone, and all of that was from views. However, as per reports, this year’s Daytona 500 witnessed a 27% decrease in television viewership.

The 2025 season is just over a month away. With a deal worth $7.7 billion over the next seven seasons in place and the 38-race season divided between Fox (FOX), NBC (CMCSA), Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), and Amazon, the hype is unmatched. Fans can check out the 2025 NASCAR schedule here.