Verstappen And Vettel Demonized Because Of British Media Newey Suggests

Wednesday, 11 September 2024 at 10:24

Aston Martin's newly announced managing technical partner, Adrian Newey, suggested that British media contribute to the demonization of Max Verstappen, and they did the same with Sebastian Vettel.

Following the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix, where Max Verstappen collided with Lando Norris, the Dutchman suggested he felt that experts in British media tend to favor their own drivers, such as Norris, George Russell, or Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen didn't mean to complain. He rather stated it as something that he understands happens naturally. He said, as per Daily Mail:

“"Eighty to 85 percent of the press in F1 is English, so you have quite a dominant force with that. In the back of their minds, most would prefer their national driver to do well or, in the case of an incident, naturally pick the side of their countryman."”

Afterward, Verstappen also emphasized that he's used to this and that it doesn't bother him. However, Adrian Newey thinks it's "very unfair."

Speaking about the 26-year-old Red Bull Racing F1 driver during his latest appearance on the High-Performance podcast, the newly appointed Aston Martin's managing technical director said:

“"I think Max is his own man, he's incredibly mature, rounded and philosophical. I think from the outside I'm not sure people fully appreciate and understand Max just like they didn't with Sebastian [Vettel]."”

“"There's this sort of demonization for both of them suffered at times, which I think is very unfair, and maybe that's also a little bit of the British media."”

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While Max Verstappen didn't specifically name broadcasters that he thought were biased, Newey didn't hesitate to point out Sky Sports—which you can watch through F1TV as a non-United Kingdom citizen.

While it makes sense for the media to prefer their countrymen, the 65-year-old suggested they should be more careful when they have "huge influence around the world."

“"Sky have a huge influence around the world. Their viewing is truly international, but their coverage is quite nationalistic, that I say, and that can have nuance."”

“"It's this thing that now with with journalism typically, I'm not saying they don't want to include this so don't take this personally, but there is that trend to put people on either the pedestal or knock them down."”