David Croft has defended Max Verstappen’s aggression (Image: Getty)
Sky Sports F1 commentator produced a detailed defence of four-time world champion at the Autosport International event after a fan labelled the driver ‘over-aggressive’ and ‘petulant’.
Verstappen’s on-track conduct was a constant topic of debate in 2024. The Dutchman wasn’t afraid to get his elbows out when fighting in 2021, and the pair clashed at Silverstone, Monza and Jeddah, just to name a few. However, with dominant machinery underneath him in 2022 and 2023, this side of the man was rarely seen.
The 27-year-old proved that he hadn’t lost his brutal edge when fighting in 2024, though. Verstappen picked up 10-second time penalties in Austria and twice in Mexico City, as he used any tactic possible to keep the Brit’s faster machine behind.
For Verstappen, the result was a fourth successive Drivers’ Championship crown, but he earned himself some detractors along the way. Among these was , who ripped into the driver in Abu Dhabi.
When discussing Verstappen at Autosport International, Croft leapt to the Dutchman’s defence after a fan criticised his aggressive style. “You are entitled to your view, sir, and I’m not going to disagree with you,” he responded.
“He’s over-aggressive on track, and he’s petulant to the other drivers… which probably makes him a winner and a champion. Now, do we like champions? Do we like winners? We all have our favourites. I get that entirely.
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Max Verstappen’s tactics were controversial in 2024 (Image: Getty)
“But the thing about Max is that he does what he does to win and to be a champion, and is paying him to win and be a champion, so he’s doing what’s expected of him. I have no problem with that whatsoever. I like Max. I’ve always liked Max. I’ve liked him since he first drove in Japan FP1 [in 2014] because he’s got so much talent, and I appreciate the talents.
“Michael Schumacher. We love Michael Schumacher. We love . They’re winners. They’re champions. We love Sebastian Vettel for all those years winning four titles as well.
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“He did what he had to do to win as well. And if his teammate got in the way of that, and was collateral damage, as it were…so be it, that didn’t matter. He was a winner. Maybe we just have to appreciate that Max is a bit of a winner. Maybe we should actually celebrate the fact that, for four years, he’s been at the top.
“Spain 2022 was the last time Max didn’t lead the Drivers Championship. Imagine getting out of bed every morning, trying to keep yourself on top for nearly four years. That’s a hell of a toll.”