As is mostly the case in Formula One, theres a paddock row rumbling on and this time its media bias which is front and centre stage. Red Bull’s outgoing technical director gave an interview in September 2024 to the High Performance podcast claiming the British media had been biased against the team’s two world champions.
Adrian Newey claimed Sky’s coverage was excessively “nationalistic” and made villains out of Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. “From the outside I’m not sure people fully appreciate and understand Max, just like they didn’t with Sebastian. Because first of all, there’s a sort of demonisation that both of them suffered at times which I think’s very unfair,” said Newey.
“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,” he concluded.
Verstapppen win drought and ‘bad boy’ image
Of course following the summer break this year the Red Bull fall from grace exacerbated matters, with the ‘peoples’ champion Lando Norris closing in on the world champion with each race weekend. Add into the mix some spicy on track battles between the pair and the rhetoric in the British media hyped the duel to David and Goliath proportions, with Max Verstappen as the villainous Philistine.
As was the case with Lewis Hamilton’s two and a half year race win drought, each weekend without a Max victory served to build the drama and the anticipation. Then in Singapore, Verstappen was sanctioned by the stewards for ‘bad language’ and once again his media profile as the ‘bad guy’ was thrust to the fore.
In fact Verstappen’s refusal to answer questions in the subsequent FIA conference was amusing to say the least and his offer to hold court outside the governance of the FIA press conference rules demonstrated the impotence of F1’s governing body.
Verstappen made the point he was being singled out with the highly unusual punishment of community service which has proven to be a fair point given Charles Leclerc was merely given a wrist slap and fined for a similar expletive in an FIA approved media event following the Mexican Grand Prix.
British F1 media muted response
Max castigated for battling with Norris
Then came Mexico City where Max and Lando were at it hammer and tongues once again. This time it was Verstappen who was to be the source of the stewards ire as he received a draconian two ten second time penalties for track limits related incidents as he battled with the McLaren.
The topic of Max’s driving standards ran like wildfire throughout the paddock, although the majority of the drivers understood why he had done what he did – even admitting they’d do the same in the circumstances.
Yet the iconic Interlagos circuit was to provide for redemption for Max. His imperious drive through the floods that swamped the circuit revealed the world champion to be in a class of his own, something even the once highly regarded ‘rainmeister’, Lewis Hamilton was forced to acknowledge, even if grudgingly.
Redemption came not just in the form of his first race victory in ten outings, but the victory provided Max with a platform, front and centre with the media, to rebut his naysayers and state with confidence, “today you’ve seen who0 is the best.”
Norris “shameful” social media posting bizarre
Jos Verstappen lays into British media
Jos Verstappen was quickly on the bandwagon. “I think Max was incredibly irritated,” he said, referring to widespread criticism of his aggressive driving in Mexico. “So he showed who is the very best — especially after the comments from the English journalists, those English ex-drivers and the commentators.”
Max himself was also on the ball, noting there were no British journalists at the FIA post race media event. With his first victory since June, Verstappen was armed and ready to re-engage with those who had been highly critical of his driving which included former drivers, Damon Hill, Martin Brundle and race steward behind his penalty, Johnny Herbert.
Hill, who won the 1996 drivers’ championship, had compared him to the Wacky Races villain Dick Dastardly, while Brundle said the Dutch driver’s legacy was being “tainted” in the wake of his 20-second penalty in Mexico for forcing Norris off the road twice. Herbert, now an FIA steward, claimed Verstappen’s driving had been “harsh” and “over the top”.
Herbert bizarrely gave media interviews following the stewards tough penalties in Mexico, describing the mentality of Max when driving as “horrible.”
Verstappen pokes fun at British press
Back on the top step of the podium, Max was revelling being the centre of attention following a drive which will be recorded historically as that of a racing ‘legend.’
“I have a quick question,” he asked of the room full of written press reporters. “I mean, I appreciate all of you being here, but I don’t see any British press. Do they have to run to the airport, or they don’t know where the press conference is?” Mocked Max.
With two weekends and no F1 racing, it seemed as though the beef between Max and the British media would quickly fade from memory. Yet clearly the ego’s at Sky have been challenged with their presenters demanding a right of reply.
Lead commentator, David Croft, took to X, (never a good idea in an argument) defending the fact he did not attend the written media press conference. “Sometimes there’s more to a story than just a sound bite or a chance to attack people for perception of British bias.
Sky F1 lead commentator takes to twitter in Max spat
“For my part, as it’s a press conference for written media only, I never attend the post race conference, no matter who’s won.”
That said, each weekend the usual British written media reports are lurking in the paddock and its a fair question from Max to ask, why they were not at their designated press conference.
Croft then continues with his self justification: “Thursday press conferences are different, they are for broadcast and written media together. Just to help people understand.
“And the quotes from this are freely available to all media, hence other journalists might be off gathering other stories at the time, in the knowledge that they won’t miss anything said at the FIA post race presser.”
Truth behind Hamilton early quit Mercedes message
Verstappen with the last laugh
Will Buxton also took the bait dangled by Max again writing on X, “Max’s cheeky post race dig at UK press not being there probably needs a bit of context.”
“I haven’t been to a post race presser in years as I’m always on air. For print press post race is a hectic time of driver pen and ad hoc team boss interviews conducted in the paddock itself.”
Buxton goes on to argue its fair for journalists to support more the drivers from their country, but clearly this round has gone to Max Verstappen. His platform not just the talking heads of the Sky presenters, but the masterclass of sublime racing in monsoon like conditions, which the rest of the field could only watch in wonder.
Update: McLaren ‘tyre gate’ saga
The 2024 Formula One season could be one for the record books as three teams enter the final triple header run in, each capable of claiming the constructors’ championship. The difference in prize money drops from around $140m to the winning team, $131m to second and $122m for third where Red Bull lies currently.
With Max Verstappen on the edge of his forth consecutive drivers title, the problem for Red Bull lies with their second driver, Sergio Perez. The Mexican is the only one of the top eight teams drivers not to win a race this season and he currently sits in a mere 151 points while his team mate has 393.
Perez percentage of his team mates score for the year is just over 38%, the kind of result a rookie would expect against their more experienced team mate. Taking the Williams pay driver of Logan Sargeant out of the equation, the most recent rookie score against a top team mate was last year with Oscar Piastri going up against Lando Norris… READ MORE
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
David Croft , you are better than that….
damn disgraceful and unprofessional , you owe Max an apology.