Actually, F1 is buying out the commercial blocks to make sure it is shown commercial-free - at least until their streaming service is up an running. Not only that, but ESPN got the broadcast rights for free, so it is actually a great money maker for ESPN. NBCSN really screwed the pooch by telling F1 they weren't interested any longer.
Thanks. Good info.
Odd that folks on the F1 ping list had their panty’s in a wad over the ‘enormous amount’ of commercials on several of the early races...