Sky Sports F1 commentator reacts following Adrian Newey’s claim that the broadcaster is ‘biased’.

Sky Sports F1 commentator reacts following Adrian Newey’s claim that the broadcaster is ‘biased’.

Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft has dismissed Adrian Newey’s theory that the broadcaster is “nationalistic” in their coverage of their sport by pandering to British drivers as opposed to those Newey worked with at Red Bull.

Shortly after a big-money move took the design chief to Aston Martin, the 65-year-old Brit blasted Sky and claimed that their coverage “demonised” both Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel in their battles with Lewis Hamilton over the years.

Verstappen and Vettel had both been booed at Silverstone previously and Newey believes that was due to the broadcaster painting them in a negative light.

From the outside I’m not sure people fully appreciate and understand Max, just like they didn’t with Sebastian,” he told the High Performance podcast. “Because first of all, there’s a sort of demonisation that both of them suffered at times which I think’s very unfair. Maybe that’s also a little bit of the British media, if I’m honest.”

Namedropping Sky Sports particularly, Newey dug out their coverage by adding: “Sky have a huge influence around the world. Their viewing is truly international but their coverage is quite nationalistic, dare I say, and that can have an influence.”

Croft often leads Sky’s coverage as their main commentator, though was absent at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He has refuted Newey’s claim that the broadcaster favours British drivers such as Hamilton, George Russell and Lando Norris, explaining what exactly dictates their coverage.

“I will try and follow the story, it’s as simple as that,” Croft told Speedcafe. “You try and follow the story wherever that story might be, and Formula 1 is unique in that there are many different stories that happen during the course of the race.

You’ve also got to talk to the pictures, which we have no control over, on Sky, at all – they’re all from a world feed – so you’re reacting to what that director wants to put out there.