Croft on Verstappen's 'stick to commentating' remark: 'People choose to attack me'

David Croft has opened up on Max Verstappen's 'focus on commentating' quip to him. For the Sky Sports journalist, it was nothing more than banter from the 4-time world champion.

During the FIA's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix drivers' press conference, Croft asked Verstappen regarding his permanence with Red Bull. In an interview with The Times, Croft addresses Verstappen's 'stick to commentating' reply.

“Max brushed it off [a question regarding his staying on at Red Bull]. I kind of expected that he would do, so I just said, ‘So Helmut’s got the wrong end of the stick?’ and then he said, ‘just focus on commentating’ and I think he was joking, to be honest."

Max and Croft have good relationship, but 'some of his fans just attack me'

For Croft the issue doesn't lie between any sort of issue he and Verstappen may or may not have.

Pictured left to right: David Croft, Sky Sports presenter, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing driver, and Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber driver.

"Max and I have a really good relationship, I’ve known him from the outset. We’ve never rowed about anything — he’s never come to me and gone, ‘I don’t like what you said’."

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The problem, the British journalist believes, lies with the Dutch world champions' fans.

“[But] some of the Max fans pick up on that and then just blame me for the question. That’s my job — people just choose to attack me."

Fortunately for Croft, he can take whatever heat may be thrown his way.

"You can attack me as much as you want. I’ll be there at the next press conference, and it’s not going to put me off asking the question. In the public eye and on social media you’ve got to have the skin of a rhino.”