Sky Sports F1 SHOCK commentator change confirmed for 2024

David Croft explains the action with a microphone in hand — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 Off the Track

Sky Sports F1 SHOCK commentator change confirmed for 2024

A new voice will be gracing F1 coverage in 2024

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Thursday 22 February 2024 19:57 Updated: 20:34

Legendary Sky Sports broadcaster David Croft will be replaced as lead commentator at three races in 2024, the Brit has revealed in a post on X.

Croft has been a staple of Sky Sports' F1 coverage since 2012, and also previously worked as the lead Formula 1 commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Having been a critic of F1's decision to extend the season to 24 races - making the upcoming season the longest in the sport's history - Croft has now revealed that the year won't be quite so long for him.

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He will only be travelling to 21 of those events, after stating that F1's pursuit of more races was 'unsustainable' for fans and the travelling circus.

For Croft, it will mean the first time since 2007 that he has missed a grand prix, a remarkable record that has seen the 53-year-old become a much-loved part of an F1 race weekend.

David Croft has become a fixture of Formula 1 race weekends

The 2024 season starts off in Bahrain next weekend

Croft's Sky Sports replacement revealed

He announced the news in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), and revealed that his replacement for those three races in 2024 will be Harry Benjamin.

Benjamin, who like Croft has worked as BBC Radio 5 Live's Lead F1 commentator, will take over at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the Austrian GP and the Azerbaijan GP.

So, here’s a little bit of news for you all. 24 races this season, but I’m going to miss 3 of them. Will be a bit strange as it’s been a while (2007) since I last missed one. Good luck and welcome to the team to Harry Benjamin who’s standing in for me https://t.co/YFZcFYlXjH
— David Croft (@CroftyF1) February 22, 2024