LIGHTS OUT
Sky Sports forced into major broadcast change with F1 legend to miss Azerbaijan Grand Prix
A BBC commentator will replace the broadcaster
SKY SPORTS have been forced into a big change for the next Grand Prix in Azerbaijan because of a wedding.
Commentator David Croft got married to Laura Bradley last week in France.
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The pair got engaged on Christmas Day last year with fellow Sky Sports co-commentator Karun Chandhok in attendance at the wedding alongside former F1 world champion Damon Hill.
Croft is now on his honeymoon so will miss the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku on Sunday.
He will replaced by Harry Benjamin, who also stood in for Croft when he missed the race at Imola and the Austrian Grand Prix.
Back in February, Croft announced that he would be reducing his workload this season by missing three races.
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He said: “It’s more about keeping fresh for the whole season. I’m not getting any younger.
“I’ve given up and sacrificed a lot for my career. I want to give a bit of time back to my family and not be on the other side of the world. I’m getting married this year as well, so I’ve got a wedding to organise!
“But I also want to sit and watch a race at home. I want to enjoy it. Maybe I can learn something by not commentating on a race.
“I can spot a few things when I’m watching – I want to see what the viewer sees.”
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Adrian Newey to Aston Martin a big coup
By Isabelle Barker
Aston Martin have snapped up F1 guru Adrian Newey as managing technical director.
He has signed a lucrative deal having earned a formidable reputation in F1.
Newey is the most successful designer of the modern era with 12 drivers’ championships and 13 constructors’ titles to his name.
Aston Martin chief Lawrence Stroll believes Newey is what is needed to turn his team into title contenders within a couple of years.
That’s because Newey, an aerodynamicist by trade, has the Midas touch when it comes to F1 teams, delivering success almost everywhere he has gone.
He made his mark when he was recruited by Williams in the early 1990s before they went on a run of utter dominance.
Newey then switched to McLaren in 1998, delivering with a car once again with Mika Hakkinen going on to win the title, as did the team.
History repeated itself at Red Bull when under Newey’s technical leadership they became truly competitive in 2009 as the RB5 proved the outright quickest car and delivered four titles from 2010-14.
Newey delivered another title-capable car in 2021 with Verstappen and Red Bull dominating until this current season.
In 2023 the Dutch driver and Red Bull produced the most dominant season in F1 history, with 19 wins for Verstappen and 21 for the team out of 22 grands prix.
His replacement Benjamin provides F1 coverage for BBC Radio 5 Live.
He also has experience covering Formula 2 and Formula 3 races.
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