Damon Hill, the former Sky F1 commentator, has recently taken the stage to defend himself against claims of bias towards Max Verstappen and the Red Bull Racing team.
In a conversation with The Telegraph, Hill, the 1996 F1 World Champion, addressed these accusations, which have contributed to the mixed perception of the Milton Keynes-based team in the UK. Hill, who provided in-depth analysis on Sky’s platform from 2012 until last year, made it clear that critiquing Red Bull wasn’t driven by any personal vendetta but was merely part of his professional duty.
### Praise and Principle
“I’m not against Max,” Hill emphasized. “Let’s get that straight. Max is a phenomenal driver, and I genuinely like him. What’s not to appreciate? He’s electrifying. But when he crosses a line, I feel the need to speak up.”
While Hill admires Verstappen’s undeniable talent, his criticisms focus on Red Bull’s accountability, or rather the lack of it.
“I believe Red Bull’s management has a duty to the sport,” he explained. “When their driver exceeds the limits, they should step in and say, ‘That’s not acceptable.’ But too often, they don’t.”
Hill’s critique of Red Bull revolves around their tendency to give Verstappen free rein, shielding him when he doesn’t adhere strictly to the sport’s code of conduct.
The 2024 season brought more incidents to light, notably Verstappen’s clashes with Lando Norris at the Austrian and US Grands Prix, which reinforced Hill’s viewpoint.
“Max has adeptly leveraged the rules about overtaking to his advantage, particularly being ahead at the apex on the inside,” Hill noted. “The rules don’t explicitly prohibit it, and it’s thrilling to watch such maneuvers. But let’s be honest, no other driver pulls that off, and if someone tried it on him, he’d protest loudly. That’s my issue with Red Bull. They like to play the tough guys but complain when things don’t go their way.”
### Beyond Borders
Hill also addressed the broader narrative Red Bull has pushed about alleged British bias, a sentiment echoed by Verstappen’s father, Jos, who recently remarked that Max “fuels the English.”
Hill dismissed these claims outright. “I have no issues with Max. My problem is with jingoism and the narrative that ‘you’re against us because we’re not British,’ which is merely a tactic to pressure us,” he declared. “It’s unfair to suggest there’s an anti-Dutch sentiment.”
Reflecting further, Hill criticized Red Bull’s defensive stance. “Red Bull is aggressive in defending their team. They dislike criticism aimed at Max, especially when they feel Sky is being biased towards British interests, which I find unfair.”
“Sky aims to be a fair broadcaster, delivering credit where it’s due, without bias. But Red Bull understands the power of their position and isn’t afraid to exert influence when necessary.”
Hill isn’t alone in enduring backlash from Red Bull. Similarly, Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz faced a temporary snub in 2022 after his candid post-race comments, and Johnny Herbert recently lost his role as an FIA steward amid allegations of bias against Verstappen.
Standing firmly in his convictions, Hill continues to respect Verstappen’s skill while advocating for Red Bull to take responsibility for maintaining the sport’s integrity. To him, it’s not personal—it’s about principles.
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