Formula 1: Sky Sports set for rare broadcast booth change at Baku

As a devoted Formula 1 fan with years of watching under my belt, I can confidently say that the absence of David Croft from the commentary booth has felt like a missing piece of the race weekend puzzle. His knowledgeable and enthusiastic commentary has been a constant companion since 1998, making his occasional absences all the more noticeable.

Since Sky Sports gained the rights for Formula 1 race weekend broadcasts from the BBC in 2012, there have been a total of 243 Grands Prix held up to the start of the 2024 season. Among all these races, David Croft has always served as the lead announcer for Sky Sports.

To clarify, when we consider his debut in the broadcasting world of Stevenage, United Kingdom, which began in 1998, he had only skipped one race weekend prior to the start of that year. Unfortunately, he was unable to attend the 2007 European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring due to the arrival of his son.

However, during the 2024 season, which broke records with 24 races and had three pre-planned absences, Crofty missed the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend at the Imola Circuit in May as one of his scheduled breaks.

Last year’s Sky Sports F1 Kids show host, Harry Benjamin, stepped in during the seventh race of this season, which marked Sky Sports’ 250th. Given the large footsteps to follow, he performed admirably during his inaugural appearance in the Formula 1 broadcast booth.

Harry Benjamin returns for Baku

During the Red Bull Ring event in late June, which took place four races after, Benjamin stepped in for Crofty. This particular weekend was significant as it represented the first time Crofty had missed a sprint race.

This coming weekend, Benjamin will once more take over for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The seventeenth race on the 2024 calendar is planned to be a 51-lap event that circuits around the 20-turn, approximately 3.73-mile (6.003-kilometer) temporary street course located in Azadliq Square, Baku, Azerbaijan – the Baku City Circuit.

In previous seasons, this race was held first, but this year, it’s the third and last one that Croft will not be participating in due to scheduling conflicts.

Join FuboTV today on a free trial, and catch the live coverage of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from Baku City Circuit this Sunday, September 15 at 6:55 a.m. ET on ESPN. Don’t miss out on any of the exciting action!

2024-09-13 13:32