Ex-Sky Sports F1 analyst Johnny Herbert has voiced his apprehension for two of his former teammates at the broadcaster following the news of Damon Hill’s impending exit.
Johnny Herbert himself was dropped by Sky Sports prior to the start of the 2023 Formula 1 season, a decision that left fans and insiders surprised. Now, with Hill set to step down at the conclusion of the current campaign, speculation abounds over whether the former World Champion chose to leave on his own terms or if Sky executives decided it was time to refresh their lineup.
The uncertainty surrounding Hill’s departure, coupled with Johnny Herbert’s own experience, has fueled his concerns about the future stability of the team at Sky Sports F1 and the potential impact on his former colleagues still with the broadcaster.
“It’s been a fantastic 13 years with Sky Sports F1 but all good things come to an end,” the 64-year-old wrote in a message posted on X – “I will miss the most impressive bunch of professionals it has ever been my pleasure to have worked with. Looking forward to new challenges.”
In the lead-up to the announcement of Damon Hill’s departure, the former Formula 1 World Champion faced mounting criticism online due to his outspoken views on Max Verstappen’s aggressive driving tactics. Hill had openly criticized the reigning three-time world champion following a controversial incident in Mexico City last month, where Verstappen received significant penalties for illegal maneuvers against Lando Norris. Hill’s candid commentary on the matter sparked heated debates, drawing sharp backlash from fans and stirring up tension within the F1 community.
“The second move was just daft and Dick Dastardly stuff. He accelerated to the apex and drove Lando off the track and Lando didn’t have much option. That was silly driving.” – he explained in a discussion on the Sky Sports F1 podcast
As Damon Hill’s departure looms, Johnny Herbert views it as yet another indicator of the broader changes taking place at Sky Sports. Reflecting on the shifting landscape, Herbert expressed concern that this could signal the end of an era, prompting him to wonder if other beloved figures, like Martin Brundle or long-time commentator David Croft, might soon follow suit. The departure of Hill, he suggests, could be part of a wider reshaping of the team, leaving fans to speculate about the future of Sky Sports’ F1 coverage: “I don’t know whether it was [Hill’s] decision or Sky’s, to be honest,” Johnny Herbert said in an interview for FlashscoreUSA.com. “Was it an enjoyment factor? Potentially. I know he got criticism for the Max scenarios and maybe he felt, ‘You know what I don’t need that.’ There is change going on. If he was pushed, then you wonder what could happen to Martin Brundle and David Croft.”
Following two dominant years in which Max Verstappen claimed the world title with relative ease, this season’s close battle with Lando Norris has reignited excitement, both on the track and among the fanbase. The heightened tension has been palpable, with Herbert speculating that the growing wave of online criticism could have influenced Damon Hill’s decision to step away. As the rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris intensified, so too did the scrutiny from fans and pundits, which may have contributed to the tough decision made by his former colleague.
“Damon Hill has been saying ever since he started in 2012 that he wondered why he was doing the punditry,” he continued. “Every year he said he wasn’t sure whether he would do it again. And every year for the next 12 he came back! He was very unhappy at the crazy level of abuse he got over his Max comments. Maybe all that negativity made him decide.”
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