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Former F1 world champion and pundit Damon Hill gave a hilarious reaction to former McLaren CEO Ron Dennis subtly dissing British broadcaster Sky Sports. The former Williams F1 driver retired from the sport at the end of the 1999 season after calling time on his tenure with the Jordan F1 team.
Hill, who is the son of former three-time F1 world champion Graham Hill, registered 22 victories and multiple podiums to his name after driving for teams like Williams, McLaren, and Brabham.
After his racing career, the 64-year-old became the President of the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) in 2006. After stepping down from the role in 2011, Damon Hill became a pundit for the British broadcaster Sky Sports from 2012 to 2024.
Ron Dennis, on the other hand, has kept a distance from the F1 paddock after leaving his role as an Executive for McLaren in 2017. In his recent interview with The Times, the former McLaren boss was asked if he watches the races from home, to which he replied:
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“I watch every Grand Prix, but with the sound off. I know too much about it to listen to that nonsense. I prefer to concentrate on the purity of the racing. I love the sport and will always follow it, but I don’t miss the atmosphere of the paddock at all.”
On his Instagram Story, Damon Hill shared the 78-year-old's comments and wrote:
"Put the radio on"
Sky Sports, which is the only broadcaster with the rights to telecast F1 in the UK, has been facing heat from fans and several F1 personnel alike for their coverage.
Aero wizard Adrian Newey, too, had recently claimed that the broadcaster's coverage was a bit nationalistic, amidst their criticism of Red Bull and Max Verstappen, especially in 2021.
Former McLaren boss reveals the reason behind skipping the F1 paddock
Former McLaren CEO Ron Dennis stated that he has chosen to skip returning to the F1 paddock despite getting several invites from the sport.
Speaking with The Times, the Woking-based native reflected on his decision:
“They often ask me to go to the GPs, especially their children and grandchildren. I organize everything for them, but I stay at home. I have seen many people come back after leaving Formula 1, but the problem is that your opinion no longer counts.
"Even if you have won a lot, you remain a man of the past. They treat you with respect, they offer you a coffee, but you have nothing more to say. I don’t want to be in that situation.”
Under his leadership from 1981 to 2009, McLaren won seven Constructors' Championships and was a top team for multiple decades, housing some of the most famous drivers like Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, and Lewis Hamilton.
