This weekend’s Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix will have a notable absence from the commentary booth: David Croft. Since joining Sky Sports in 2012, Croft has been a constant presence, bringing excitement and knowledge to F1 fans around the world. However, he will not be on the microphone at Imola for the first time in more than a decade. Croft’s absence is not unexpected. In February this year, he announced that he would be taking time off for several races this season, including the Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna, Austria and Azerbaijan. The decision was motivated by a desire to better balance her professional and personal life, especially with an important event in her personal life approaching: her wedding. Croft explained his reasons in an interview with The Independent: “It’s more about staying fresh throughout the season. I’m not getting any younger. I resigned and sacrificed a lot for my career. I want to give some time back to my family and not be on the other side of the world. I’m also getting married this year, so I have a wedding to organize!” In addition to planning his own wedding, Croft mentioned that he wants to watch a race from home, an experience he believes can offer new perspectives. “I want to sit at home and watch a race. I want to enjoy it. Maybe I can learn something by not commenting on a race. I can observe some things when I watch – I want to see what the viewer sees . In Croft’s absence, Sky Sports has chosen Harry Benjamin to take the commentary for the races in Imola, Austria and Azerbaijan. But who is Harry Benjamin? Harry Benjamin is a young and talented commentator who has already demonstrated his skills and passion for motorsport on various platforms. He has experience as a radio announcer and has worked in other motorsport competitions, gaining a reputation for his engaging style and technical knowledge. While Benjamin has big shoes to fill, he brings a new energy to the commentary booth. Sky Sports is confident in its ability to deliver in-depth, exciting race coverage, ensuring F1 fans continue to enjoy a high-quality experience even in Croft’s absence. Croft’s temporary replacement by Benjamin also provides an opportunity for the latter to showcase his skills to a wider audience. For fans, it will be interesting to see how Benjamin will fare in this prominent role and how his fresh perspective will add to the broadcast. As David Croft takes a well-deserved break to focus on his personal life and recharge, Harry Benjamin is ready to take charge and keep F1 audiences entertained and informed. It’s going to be an exciting weekend at Imola, with a new voice guiding fans through the highs and lows of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Why isn’t David Croft commentating at F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix? Who is Harry Benjamin?
This weekend’s Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix will have a notable absence from the commentary booth: David Croft. Since joining Sky Sports in 2012, Croft has been a constant presence, bringing excitement and knowledge to F1 fans around the world. However, he will not be on the microphone at Imola for the first time in more than a decade. Croft’s absence is not unexpected. In February this year, he announced that he would be taking time off for several races this season, including the Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna, Austria and Azerbaijan. The decision was motivated by a desire to better balance her professional and personal life, especially with an important event in her personal life approaching: her wedding. Croft explained his reasons in an interview with The Independent: “It’s more about staying fresh throughout the season. I’m not getting any younger. I resigned and sacrificed a lot for my career. I want to give some time back to my family and not be on the other side of the world. I’m also getting married this year, so I have a wedding to organize!” In addition to planning his own wedding, Croft mentioned that he wants to watch a race from home, an experience he believes can offer new perspectives. “I want to sit at home and watch a race. I want to enjoy it. Maybe I can learn something by not commenting on a race. I can observe some things when I watch – I want to see what the viewer sees . In Croft’s absence, Sky Sports has chosen Harry Benjamin to take the commentary for the races in Imola, Austria and Azerbaijan. But who is Harry Benjamin? Harry Benjamin is a young and talented commentator who has already demonstrated his skills and passion for motorsport on various platforms. He has experience as a radio announcer and has worked in other motorsport competitions, gaining a reputation for his engaging style and technical knowledge. While Benjamin has big shoes to fill, he brings a new energy to the commentary booth. Sky Sports is confident in its ability to deliver in-depth, exciting race coverage, ensuring F1 fans continue to enjoy a high-quality experience even in Croft’s absence. Croft’s temporary replacement by Benjamin also provides an opportunity for the latter to showcase his skills to a wider audience. For fans, it will be interesting to see how Benjamin will fare in this prominent role and how his fresh perspective will add to the broadcast. As David Croft takes a well-deserved break to focus on his personal life and recharge, Harry Benjamin is ready to take charge and keep F1 audiences entertained and informed. It’s going to be an exciting weekend at Imola, with a new voice guiding fans through the highs and lows of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Gigi Dall’Igna: Marc Marquez P13 to P2 “counts as a victory”
Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo surprised the MotoGP world by saying he had never been so happy after a crash. The statement came after the Le Mans Grand Prix, where Quartararo demonstrated an outstanding performance, setting a competitive pace for the first time in the season that put him in the top six, before suffering a crash. “This is the first time I’ve been so happy after a race where I crashed,” Quartararo said. “It’s because this was the first time this year that we were actually inside the top 6 and that we were fighting. I was fighting well. I was racing with Aleix Espargaro and I saw some great riders in front of me, which made me really motivated for the pace we had and, unfortunately, I fell”. Despite the accident, Quartararo highlighted the significant improvements made to his Yamaha M1, which allowed him to compete equally with the best. “I’m quite happy with the way the race went, apart from the mistake we made at the end. But I think we can be happy with our race. Seeing that the fans always support me, we had to give everything we had.” Yamaha team principal Massimo Meregalli shared Quartararo’s optimism. He praised the driver’s performance, although he regretted the outcome of the race. “We are very disappointed for Fabio. We know he really wanted to get a good result in his home GP and in front of the fans, who were extremely supportive,” said Meregalli. Meregalli also highlighted the changes made to Quartararo’s bike on the morning of the race, which proved effective. “This morning we made some changes to his bike which turned out to be working really well. He was keeping pace with the riders so that’s positive and constructive ahead of a very busy three weeks.” At Le Mans, Quartararo was not the only driver in the spotlight. Gresini Ducati’s Marc Marquez made an impressive comeback, moving from 13th on the grid to finish second, a performance that Ducati general manager Gigi Dall’Igna likened to a victory. “Marquez confirmed the excellent progress he is making, his giant strides, taking his Ducati from 13th on the grid to second, which counts as a win,” said Dall’Igna. Pramac Ducati’s Jorge Martin also had a great performance, winning both the Sprint Race and the Grand Prix. “A wonderful Martin doubled his Sprint Race victory with a thrilling GP victory in a thrilling race set in the final corner,” Dall’Igna praised. However, Francesco Bagnaia, the reigning world champion, faced challenges during the race, being overtaken by Martin and Marquez in the final lap. “Pecco, after a great start, was the protagonist of a very competitive race, attacking and defending himself with the generosity of the champion that he is, suffering at the end the recoveries of Martini and then Marquis”, commented Dall’Igna. The race at Le Mans showcased the competition and advances of the top drivers and teams, making the championship even tougher and more exciting. For Quartararo, the happiness after the crash shows that Yamaha is on the right track to regain competition and achieve better results in future races.
Fabio Quartararo after Le Mans heartbreak: “First time I am happy after I crashed”
Fabio Quartararo, the French Yamaha rider, was surprised when he declared that he had never been so happy after an accident in a MotoGP race. This special feeling came after the Le Mans Grand Prix, where, despite the accident, Quartararo saw significant improvements in the performance of his bike, the M1, which allowed him to compete in the top six for the first time this season. Quartararo, spurred on by his home fans, produced a remarkable performance before his collapse. “I think this is the first time I’ve been so happy after a race where I crashed,” Quartararo said after the Grand Prix. “It’s because this was the first time this year that we were actually in the top six and that we were fighting. I was fighting well. I was fighting with Aleix [Espargaro].” Quartararo’s enthusiasm was not only a reaction to the support of his fans but also a response to the improvements made to his bike. “I saw some great riders in front of me, and I think I was a bit motivated for the pace we had, but unfortunately I crashed,” he explained. “I’m quite happy with the way the race went, apart from the mistake we made at the end. But I still think we can be happy with our race. Seeing the fans who always support me, we had to give everything we had.” Massimo Meregalli, Yamaha team principal, shared Quartararo’s positive opinion, despite his disappointment at the crash. “We are very disappointed for Fabio,” Meregali began. “We know he really wanted to get a good result at his home GP and in front of the fans, who were incredibly supportive.” Meregalli highlighted Quartararo’s effort and determination, crediting the changes made to the bike that allowed the French rider to keep pace with the leaders. “This morning we made some changes to his bike, which turned out to be working really well. He was keeping pace with the riders, so that’s positive and constructive ahead of a very busy three weeks.” The Le Mans performance represented a turning point for Quartararo and Yamaha. Despite the crash, the race showed that the team is making significant progress, raising optimism for future races. Quartararo, who has struggled this season so far, finally saw a glimpse of competition and potential in his gear. “I’m quite happy with the way the race went, except for the mistake we made at the end. But I still think we can be happy with our race. Seeing that the fans always support me, we had to give everything we had,” he said. Quartararo. Quartararo’s positive attitude and improvements to the Yamaha M1 are promising signs that the French rider and his team are well on their way back to the top of the competition. With the continued support of their fans and the team’s dedication, there is hope for better results to come.
Can Ducati ignore in-form Jorge Martin as rider decision looms?
Deciding who will be Francesco Bagnaia’s teammate in Ducati’s factory team in 2025 is turning into a real dilemma for the Italian team. At the center of this issue is Pramac Ducati rider Jorge Martin, who currently leads the world championship by a sizeable 38 points over Bagnaia. As Mugello approaches, Ducati faces a crucial choice that could determine its competitive future in MotoGP. Jorge Martin has shown an impressive performance since the beginning of the season. Although he made a mistake in Jerez, he recovered quickly and extended his championship lead. “Martin is in the best form of his career and it was interesting to hear his comments over the weekend, saying ‘Ducati knows what I’m capable of’. He also basically said after the Sprint: ‘if I don’t they want me, I’ll take my talent elsewhere,’” commented Jordan Moreland, host of the Crash.net MotoGP podcast. Martin’s consistency and performance make it hard for Ducati to ignore him. “How do you sack the guy who’s leading the world championship? It’s going to be a tough decision if they do,” said Pete McLaren, Crash.net MotoGP editor. Not only does Martin lead the championship, but he has also demonstrated an ability to recover and adapt that is essential for any factory driver. However, the decision is not that simple. Marc Marquez, racing the year-old Ducati Gresini, has also shown excellent form. He is now just 2 points behind Bagnaia in the standings and shares third place with Enea Bastianini. Marquez, with his experience and ability, represents another strong option for Ducati. Ducati is expected to announce its decision at Mugello, an event that is also a home race for the Italian team. “Mugello, a home race for Ducati, is the timeframe when we expect the rider decision to be announced. We don’t know if the decision has been made yet, but around Mugello is when it should be announced,” McLaren said. The choice between Martin and Marquez puts Ducati in a challenging position. On the one hand, Martin is in unbeaten form and leads the championship. On the other hand, Marquez brings great experience and consistent results with a less competitive bike. Additionally, Bagnaia’s loyalty and current partnership with Bastianini are also factors to consider. With all these variables in play, Ducati’s decision will be crucial not only for the 2025 season, but also for the future of the team in MotoGP. Will Ducati be able to ignore the in-form Jorge Martin? The answer to this question will be crucial to the dynamics of the championship and the trajectory of the team in the coming years.
Alex Albon commits to Williams with multi-year F1 contract extension
Thai Formula 1 driver Alex Albon has signed a multi-year contract extension with the Williams team, guaranteeing his stay with the team beyond 2026. The news was confirmed by the team on Wednesday, ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola. Since joining Williams in 2022, Albon has been a key player in the team’s development. He helped guide Williams to an impressive seventh position in the constructors’ championship, bringing new energy and optimism to the team. His arrival marked the beginning of a period of renewal, with Albon showing consistent performance and a technical approach that was crucial to the team’s progress. Despite rumors of a possible return to Red Bull, Albon chose to continue his commitment to Williams. “I am incredibly pleased to be staying with Williams Racing and to be working with such a talented and dedicated team,” said Albon. “It’s been a tough start to the year, but since joining Williams, we’ve made significant progress together, and I’ve seen the big changes happen behind the scenes to take us back to the top of the grid.” In 2024, Williams adopted a new car philosophy, which unfortunately led to a difficult start to the season with no top-ten finishes so far. However, Albon remains confident in the team’s potential and its ability to overcome these challenges. “This is a long-term project that I really believe in and want to play a key role in, which is why I signed a multi-year contract,” Albon continued. “The journey will take time, but I am confident that we are building the right team to move forward and achieve great things in the coming years.” Williams team principal James Vowles expressed his delight at Albon’s contract extension. “We are delighted to secure Alex’s long-term future with Williams Racing. He has exceptional talent, valuable technical contributions, and commitment to the cause, and this is great confidence in Williams and our journey back to competitiveness,” said Vowles. “Since joining us, Alex has consistently demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure, and signing him long-term is an important piece of the puzzle as we move up the grid.” With the introduction of new technical regulations in 2026, Albon will be at the forefront of Williams’ charge in this new era of Formula 1. Meanwhile, the identity of Albon’s 2025 teammate is still unclear, given the poor performance of Logan Sargeant. Possible candidates include Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Pierre Gasly, and Valtteri Bottas. Albon’s contract extension represents a significant statement of confidence in Williams’ direction and future potential. With strong leadership and renewed commitment, the team hopes to overcome current challenges and once again become a competitive force in Formula 1.
