Buxton attended King's School, Worcester, where he sang as a chorister at Worcester Cathedral under conductor Donald Hunt. He later studied at Lord Wandsworth College and Sixth Form College, Farnborough, before completing his degree at Leeds. While at university he began writing for GrandPrix.com, an early online motorsport outlet, which gave him his entry point into the industry.
After graduating, Buxton joined the Official Formula 1 Magazine as a staff writer in 2002. He continued in that role until the magazine's discontinuation in February 2004, after which he moved into freelance work. In 2005 he became press officer for the inaugural GP2 Series — the second-tier feeder championship directly below Formula One — and was later promoted to Director of Communications for the series. In 2008 he became editor of the GPWeek virtual magazine, and in 2009 began providing live commentary for the GP2 and GP2 Asia Series on behalf of the Formula One Group.
This period working closely with GP2 gave Buxton deep familiarity with the junior formula ecosystem and with many drivers who would go on to Formula One careers.
In 2010, Buxton joined Speed, an American motorsports cable channel owned by Fox Sports, as their Formula 1 pit-lane reporter. He held that position until Speed lost its F1 broadcast rights at the end of 2012 — a development he later said he learned about through posts on social media by channel colleagues. When NBC Sports acquired the American F1 rights in 2013, Buxton resumed his role as pit-lane reporter and also joined NBC's IndyCar coverage, continuing in both roles until 2017.
Buxton returned to Formula One in an official capacity in 2018, becoming the Formula One Group's first Digital Presenter — a newly created role reflecting the sport's growing investment in online and streaming content under Liberty Media's ownership. Based on F1 TV and the official F1 YouTube channel, he hosted the Weekend Warm-Up (formerly Paddock Pass) programme, a format he had carried over from his NBC days.
His appearances in all seasons of Formula 1: Drive to Survive from 2018 onward established him as one of the programme's most recognisable contributors. The Netflix production often used Buxton as an explanatory voice for viewers unfamiliar with racing terminology and championship mechanics, a role that generated a significant social media following and produced several widely shared soundbites.
In 2019 he published his first book, My Greatest Defeat: Stories of Hardship and Hope from Motor Racing's Finest Heroes, illustrated by Giuseppe Camuncoli. A second book, Grand Prix: An Illustrated History of Formula 1, followed in 2024.
In 2014 Buxton was invited to participate in the inaugural Florida Winter Series, a non-championship development event. He drove at three rounds of the series, competing alongside future Formula One drivers Max Verstappen, Lance Stroll, and Nicholas Latifi — an unusual experience for a journalist that gave him firsthand knowledge of competitive single-seater driving.
On 14 January 2025, Fox Sports announced Buxton as lead commentator for its first season covering the IndyCar Series, working alongside analysts James Hinchcliffe and Townsend Bell. The appointment concluded his roles with F1 TV. In February 2026, Buxton launched the Formula One podcast Up To Speed, co-hosted with David Coulthard, Naomi Schiff, and Jolie Sharpe.
Buxton's career bridges the analogue and digital eras of motorsport broadcasting. His progression from GP2 press officer to the first Digital Presenter of the Formula One Group reflects wider changes in how the sport communicates with global audiences. His association with Drive to Survive introduced Formula One to a generation of fans who had not previously followed the sport, making him one of the more culturally significant figures in early twenty-first century motorsport media.