Brundle responds to Verstappen's British media 'bias' claim

Former F1 driver turned pundit Martin Brundle has responded to suggestions the Sky F1 coverage is biased towards British drivers.

Outgoing Red Bull chief technical officer Adrian Newey recently suggested Max Verstappen, as well as Sebastian Vettel, were victims of “demonisation” from British media.

Verstappen has also spoken out about the alleged bias against him, citing the lack of British press at the post-race press conference in Brazil earlier this month.

On the most recent Sky F1 podcast, it was theorised by the host Matt Baker that the broadcaster tends to have added focus on British drivers - a claim that Brundle denied.

“No, I don’t think we do,” Brundle stated.

“I’m a Brit. I’m a former British F1 driver, and we’re broadcasting primarily to a British broadcaster. Others take our feed all the way around the world.

“When I watch the Olympics or the World Cup or the European Cup, obviously, your commentators are fervently pro whichever country they’re from. I don’t think we do that. I like to think we’re pretty balanced. I really do.

“We get flack from pretty much everybody, because what I have learned in these 27, 28 years is that you can say 1,000 positive things about somebody and one negative will get back to them and their fans get onto it, or their family and friends tell them. 

“I get a few cool, sideways glances sometimes.

“Nobody ever comes up to you and says, ‘Thank you very much for what you said about us.'”

Brundle reveals F1 driver compliment

Brundle has long been involved in F1 commentary and punditry, having made the switch to broadcasting following his racing career.

The 65-year-old has worked for ITV and the BBC before moving to Sky Sports ahead of the 2012 campaign.

Following his claim about negative comments being picked up and thrown in the spotlight, Brundle outlined he was once complimented by a driver for a positive remark he mentioned on air.

“I did have it once, actually,” Brundle stated. 

“It was Nico Rosberg, and he came up to me in Malaysia, a million years ago, said, ‘I’d like to thank you for what you said about me last weekend.’

“I said, ‘Okay, I really appreciate that, because I’ve got to be honest with you, you’re the first driver that’s ever said anything to me like that'. And by the way, the last.

“I said, ‘If you don’t mind, what did I say that you liked? Just for my reference?’ He said, ‘I don’t know. My mum told me I needed to thank you.’ 

“So actually, I still haven’t been thanked by a driver for something.”