Source: REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
[Saba Sports News] F1 gold commentator David Croft made a tough statement to British media: “Even if I am cyber-bullied, I will continue to ask Max Verstappen about his future.” The incident originated when Croft asked Red Bull management about explosive remarks concerning Verstappen leaving the team during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix press conference, which was met with a snub from the Dutch driver saying he should focus on commentary, sparking global attacks from Red Bull fans. Croft revealed: “Verstappen never causes trouble with the media behind closed doors, but extreme fans are like sharks smelling blood.” Croft specifically mentioned that when Adrian Newey criticized his former employer for having nationalist tendencies last year, Verstappen publicly expressed 100% support for Newey, putting pressure on the commentary team. Data shows that in the past three years, 42% of Croft’s questions about the Red Bull team have been about team stability, far exceeding other teams. This year, the rate of Verstappen avoiding such questions has surged from 23% in 2023 to 67%. With the Miami Grand Prix approaching, this 20-year veteran journalist vowed: “I will still raise my hand first at the next press conference, even if the questions are sharp.”