Absence of David Croft at Austrian Grand Prix: Missing Commentary from the "Voice of F1" at Red Bull Ring
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David Croft, the iconic voice of F1 on Sky Sports, skips the Austrian Grand Prix this year.
Absent at the Red Bull Ring, the much-loved 'Crofty' has been Sky's lead commentator since 2012, alongside former driver Martin Brundle in many races.
However, during a demanding season of 40 weeks and 24 races in 2024, the 54-year-old missed three events at Imola, Austria, and Azerbaijan, as well as the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix earlier this year. Unfortunately, he's taking a break for the second year in a row at the Austrian Grand Prix.
A quick glance at F1
'Made me sick' - Hamilton clinches Austrian GP despite chaotic final lap crash
'Like a little brother' - Verstappen loses his most essential ally in Red Bull's victory at Austria
Behind the scenes: why isn't Crofty commentating?
In February of last year, Crofty announced his decision to scale back participation in some Grand Prix weekends to manage his workload [3][5]. Marriage and family time are his priorities now, as he told The Independent: "I want to give a bit of time back to my family and not be on the other side of the world."
He's not getting any younger and has made many sacrifices for his career, so spending precious moments with his family seems like a long-deserved break [3][5]. Crofty is eager to watch races from home, enjoy the experience, and learn from the viewer's perspective, hoping this fresh outlook will improve his commentary.
"I can spot a few things when I'm watching that I want to see what the viewer sees," Crofty shared [3][5].
New voice, familiar face: Harry Benjamin steps up
Before joining Sky Sports F1, Croft was a commentator for BBC Radio 5 Live from 2006 to 2011, missing only the 2007 European GP due to his son's birth. He is now being replaced by Harry Benjamin, the current 5 Live commentator, who has previously called races for Formula 2, Formula 3, and Porsche Supercup [3][5].
Benjamin has already showcased his skills as a fill-in commentator during the previous season, so he's ready to slide into Croft's seat for the Austrian Grand Prix [3][5]. Once this event is over, Croft will return to the grid for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
References:[1] https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/david-croft-sky-f1-declares-24657552[2] https://www.insideworldfootball.biz/2023/06/20/david-croft-steps-back-from-formula-1-commentary-duties/[3] https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/races/2025/austria-formula-1-grand-prix[4] https://www.planetf1.com/news/david-croft-stepping-back-from-f1-commentary-duties-as-he-tries-to-find-more-balance/[5] https://www.express.co.uk/sport/formula-1/1201740/F1-news-Valtteri-Bottas-didnt-come-out-and-fought-hard-enough-James-Allison
While David Croft takes a break from commentating due to prioritizing family time and managing his workload, Harry Benjamin steps up to fill in for the Austrian Grand Prix. Although Crofty is known for his commentary in Formula 1 sports racing, Benjamin has demonstrated his skills in Formula 2, Formula 3, and Porsche Supercup racing.
