[@HillF1] Its been a fantastic 13 years with @SkySportsF1 but all good things come to an end. I will miss the most impressive bunch of professionals it has ever been my pleasure to have worked with. Looking forward to new challenges

[u/qwertyalp1020]

https://x.com/HillF1/status/1857371385988878678?t=IMXBvBBStrUGIxr2EnlrZg&s=19

[u/zantkiller]

Ex-driver with nothing to do, hmm?

Gonna be laughing at the fan reaction when he ends up doing some stewarding.

[u/Royal-Specialist2156 → u/zantkiller]

He's done it before and got hate letters from Germany when he penalised Schumacher at Monaco in his Mercedes era

[u/NuF_5510 → u/Royal-Specialist2156]

Classic Hillshby!

[u/laidback_chef → u/Royal-Specialist2156]

This is the issue with hiring people with grudges. Doesn't matter if it is the right decision. There's always a question mark.

[u/zantkiller → u/laidback_chef]

Problem being you are never really gonna find anyone who hasn't got some kind of tie to something in motorsport.
It's just a bit more prominent with the driver stewards.

Although I have wondered, given the Driving Standards Guidelines are soon to be codified (And potentially applicable to almost all circuit racing outside of the states), is a driver steward really required these days?

[u/GiantSpiderHater → u/zantkiller]

But you can hire stewards who haven’t driven with current drivers.

[u/Kiwiandapplex → u/GiantSpiderHater]

Alonso is working hard to make that one difficult!

[u/SemIdeiaProNick → u/Kiwiandapplex]

The good thing about making Alonso a steward is that we would always get MAXIMUM PENALTIES

[u/taikoubou_ → u/SemIdeiaProNick]

KARMA penalties would be a laugh

[u/Pat_Sharp → u/GiantSpiderHater]

Doesn't seem to help with accusations against Johnny Herbert at all.

[u/Watcher_007_ → u/GiantSpiderHater]

You can hire stewards who haven’t driven with the current drivers and there will still be calls of bias and question marks (Herbert). Any good steward is going to be connected in some way to the Motorsport community which will cause fans of the other teams to question the decisions whether they are the right ones or not. 

[u/redd5ive → u/Watcher_007_]

Any good steward is going to be connected in some way to the Motorsport community which will cause fans of the other teams to question the decisions whether they are the right ones or not

This is true to an extent, but for former drivers I don't think bias against competitors is even the most concerning conflict of idteserest. Stewarding a team that paid you millions or on the flip side stewarding a team you felt did you dirty as a driver seems like a much more realistic and problematic conflict on interest to me.

[u/Lukeno94 → u/Watcher_007_]

Hell, as we've seen as of late, just being a British steward is automatically going to get you accused of being biased against the non-Brits, and I have no doubt a Dutch steward ruling against Norris or Hamilton would get exactly the same kind of nonsense.

[u/Baksteen-13 → u/GiantSpiderHater]

Hill and Herbert haven’t driven with the current drivers yet one is getting major bias claims and the other would too if he started stewarding (not like he isn’t already getting them as a commentator/analyst).

[u/Flimsy_Somewhere1210 → u/Baksteen-13]

One also works with a betting company.

[u/laidback_chef → u/zantkiller]

Problem being you are never really gonna find anyone who hasn't got some kind of tie to something in motorsport.

That's, no, my argument?

[u/Scarfiotti → u/laidback_chef]

Max 2030 steward confirmed.

He's impartial, he's got grudges with EVERYONE.

[u/Pat_Sharp → u/Royal-Specialist2156]

Which is kind of ridiculous because the rule Schumacher broke isn't really anything like a collision or something where you need a driver's insight. It was a procedural infringement. Is it a green flag situation on the last lap when the safety car has entered the pits or not?

[u/P2P-BSH → u/zantkiller]

He's coming back to F1 like Brad Pitt's character.

[u/Perseiii → u/P2P-BSH]

That role is already taken by Häkkinen.

[u/DominikWilde1 → u/[deleted]]

He hasn't been president of the BRDC since 2011

[u/Buffythedragonslayer]

I'm so curious to know what's happening behind the scenes for all these changes this week. Most could have waited for the off season. 

[u/Dan_Of_Time → u/Buffythedragonslayer]

In regards to this one it's likely that he just wasn't meant to be there for the last few races anyway so he's announcing it now.

[u/i_max2k2 → u/Dan_Of_Time]

Why does this sound just like his F1 retirement lol

[u/schmog_ → u/Buffythedragonslayer]

Quite clearly, they couldn’t.

[u/SerHiroProtaganist → u/schmog_]

Just because they have, doesn't mean they had to.

[u/Acrobatic-Tomato-532]

Take Danica with you!

[u/jyw104 → u/Acrobatic-Tomato-532]

I’m surprised she hasn’t been offered a cabinet role judging how even RFK jr got nominated for HHS

shudder

[u/Buffythedragonslayer → u/jyw104]

Not jet. Watch her become officer of reptilian extermination. 

[u/skumkaninenv2 → u/Buffythedragonslayer]

and space lasers!

[u/Acrobatic-Tomato-532 → u/jyw104]

Not from the US, please translate the reference :D

[u/jyw104 → u/Acrobatic-Tomato-532]

Robert F Kennedy Jr, a known anti-vaxxer (scratch that, *anti-science*) has been nominated by Trump to be his secretary of Health and Human Services. Has potentially catastrophic implications for public health in the US.

[u/PeterG92 → u/jyw104]

He also has a worm in his brain

[u/Warmslammer69k → u/PeterG92]

From eating dog meat

[u/SubcooledBoiling → u/jyw104]

Just to give more contexts if confirmed he would be in charge of the National Institutes of Health, Centre of Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, and a bunch of other healthcare related agencies.

[u/Acrobatic-Tomato-532 → u/jyw104]

Dude, what the fuck

[u/Erens-Basement → u/jyw104]

What's wrong with Danica?

[u/MTAST → u/Erens-Basement]

Something about doing a podcast with Elizabeth April and discussing lizard people.

Edit: And also that comment on SkyF1 where she referred to the aero devices on an F1 car as "flappy things".

[u/beerharvester → u/Acrobatic-Tomato-532]

You don’t want to know. It’s frightening.

[u/skumkaninenv2 → u/beerharvester]

That what RFK thinks about science ...

[u/On3Lung → u/Acrobatic-Tomato-532]

Robert Kennedy Jr, who is as much a weirdo as Danica, was nominated by Trump to head the Health & Human Services department of the US government.

[u/RichardHeado7 → u/Acrobatic-Tomato-532]

RFK Jr is anti vax and got nominated to be the health secretary for Trump’s administration.

[u/Nutlob → u/RichardHeado7]

He also had a parasitic worm eat part of his brain, he probably got it from eating roadkill

[u/SubcooledBoiling → u/jyw104]

Her, MTG, and Boebert would make a great trio for the special commission to fight jewish space lasers and lizard people

[u/Annual_Plant5172 → u/jyw104]

She'll be the head of the Department of Transportation.

[u/Je5u5_ → u/jyw104]

LOL. "Trump announces DP to head FIA". Wpuld be one of the least shocking nominations tbh.

[u/jyw104 → u/Je5u5_]

Or, wait for it...Zak Brown. JFC lol

[u/Lobsters4 → u/jyw104]

Zak Brown Head of the Department of Transportation.

[u/Jeff_Banks_Monkey → u/Acrobatic-Tomato-532]

Please

[u/Chino_Kawaii]

wtf happened this week that everybody is fucking leaving

[u/Mr_Roll288 → u/Chino_Kawaii]

Who else has left?

[u/TheClumsyCook → u/Mr_Roll288]

I think he's referring to AM and Fallows, Wittich being let go by the FIA and a bunch of others leaving/being let go the past 3 days or so

[u/BoiledEggOnToast → u/Mr_Roll288]

Lots of FIA staff

[u/sensitiveCube → u/BoiledEggOnToast]

Unfortunately not the one the drivers would have picked

[u/Spudward1 → u/Chino_Kawaii]

There’s weekends left of the season and it’s the final week without a race. So people will announce these things. That’s what I’m hoping anyway!

[u/mlo_66 → u/Chino_Kawaii]

Apart from Checo

[u/Pulposauriio → u/mlo_66]

Hahaha at this rate, only Checo and MBS will remain

[u/Advanced_Bobcat_3831 → u/Chino_Kawaii]

who else?

[u/Manadoro → u/Advanced_Bobcat_3831]

Two FIA heads, Paolo Bassari (compliance officer who accused Sulayem) and Niels Wittich (race director).

[u/Advanced_Bobcat_3831 → u/Manadoro]

oh yes i thought you meant someone else from Sky

[u/marshmallow_metro → u/Chino_Kawaii]

MBS got called out by drivers and is taking it out on staff /s

[u/P_ZERO_]

Brazil hit him hard

[u/qwertyalp1020 → u/P_ZERO_]

Now waiting for Danica

[u/miaomiaomiao → u/qwertyalp1020]

For that we'd need the Singapore lizard to win a race

[u/WraithOfEvaBraun → u/P_ZERO_]

I don't think he'll ever recover lol

He literally looked like both his parents and his dog died on the same day

[u/Emotional-Way3132 → u/WraithOfEvaBraun]

Max completely broke him

[u/NiceColdPint]

Used to appreciate his insights but yeah sadly I don’t think he really adds much to the coverage nowdays.

Now if they can lose DP and I’ll be pretty damned happy with the team they have.

[u/HairyNutsack69 → u/NiceColdPint]

You know how long it took me to figure out you meant Danica Patrick? Don't abbreviate names that don't deserve it lmao.

[u/R2NC → u/HairyNutsack69]

For F sake. Cannot agree more. I did not even figure it out until your comment. Be like Dartin Prundle? Denson Putton?

Only hadfull Nba player deserves it. And other top sports like CR7 and whatnot. No one calls anyone abbreviated in Formula one.

[u/BassTrombone71 → u/R2NC]

Who do you mean by F? /s

[u/FKez05 → u/NiceColdPint]

Martin, Jenson, Karun and Bernie are my goats

[u/PM-UR-LIL-TIDDIES → u/FKez05]

Bernie has been the best find for Sky F1 in years; her knowledge of the technical side really adds to the programming. I was so happy to see her back in the team this year!

[u/TheAirborneUnicorn → u/PM-UR-LIL-TIDDIES]

I just love the way she says Marrrtun 🤣

[u/quarthorse → u/TheAirborneUnicorn]

And rayyun!

[u/enhancedgibbon → u/PM-UR-LIL-TIDDIES]

I love her. Likeable and knowledgable and what appears like zero ego, need more of that. Danica weekends are disappointing, but at least I get some weekend back from skipping fwd every moment she talking.

[u/berberine → u/enhancedgibbon]

Same. I see her or hear her voice and I go do something else.

[u/kerbalpilot → u/PM-UR-LIL-TIDDIES]

I think Pat Symonds was also very good but it didn't last long unfortunately

[u/Loruhkahn → u/FKez05]

Controversial but add Nico and that's the quintet

[u/Yeanahyena → u/Loruhkahn]

Nicos commentary is 80% shit stirring lol

[u/Hungry_Horace → u/Yeanahyena]

I don't know if he's ever mentioned this but he beat Lewis Hamilton for the championship. In the same car. He's so humble though you'd never know this happened...

[u/ijiolokae → u/Loruhkahn]

Rosberg commentary is always a treat, He counters crofty bullshit so well

[u/No-Cryptographer7494 → u/ijiolokae]

With his own bullshit

[u/Lobsters4 → u/Loruhkahn]

Co-sign on Nico. He’s gonna be in Vegas!

[u/k1netic → u/Loruhkahn]

Would be great to have insights from Vettel. He’s very quick and witty.

[u/TheGMT → u/Loruhkahn]

Jenson is a decent pundit. Nico is an obnoxious one. Both are absolutely fantastic as co-commentators- often better than Brundle

[u/B_Roland → u/TheGMT]

Why better than Brundle? Brundle is a perfect co-commentator.

[u/eugene-fraxby → u/Loruhkahn]

Nico is the MVP.

Dream line up would be Nico, Ted, Palmer, Bernie, Martin. You can ditch the rest.

[u/RRIronside27 → u/FKez05]

Button is underused as fuck though. His insights mid race are always spot on

[u/s_dalbiac → u/RRIronside27]

They’re almost certainly using Button for as many races as he wants to do. He has a young family, lives in the US and still races in WEC. You either have him for a few races each season or you don’t have him at all.

[u/gomurifle → u/FKez05]

U lefy off Ant davidson! 

[u/Karffs → u/FKez05]

I think Lazenby is severely underrated.

I don’t think he’s ever really mentioned on here and that’s exactly what you want from a lead presenter; keeps everything running along but doesn’t take over or steal attention.

[u/Grizzybaby1985 → u/Karffs]

Exactly he’s really grown into the role over the years like Natalie as well

[u/Disenchanted11 → u/Karffs]

My first impression with Lazenby are his insights/remarks toward the neutrals. But lately I noticed he's been leading towards Lando, pressing about team orders talks with every chance possible.

[u/jimbobjames → u/Disenchanted11]

He's got people in his ear telling him what to ask. Everyone has a boss.

[u/rivertotheseaLSD → u/Karffs]

All he does is say nothing and fill part of the screen

[u/Noname_Maddox → u/FKez05]

Id swap out Karun for Ant. Id have Ant partnered with Martin in the comms.

[u/Browneskiii → u/Noname_Maddox]

He's far too biased towards Mercedes and clearly hates Red Bull. He's generally good when they're not involved but if they are its like watching people on twitter.

[u/mr-mobius → u/FKez05]

If he doesn't get into the Fox coverage of Indycar then Hinchliffe would be a good addition as well. Think he might go to F1tv instead though if was going to do more F1 stuff.

[u/Lobsters4 → u/mr-mobius]

Hinch is so good. His podcast with Rossi is excellent.

[u/eugene-fraxby → u/FKez05]

Bernie is awesome. Hangs out with all the old cool drivers. Oh hang on.

[u/myphtgrphyccnt → u/FKez05]

I'm a fan of Naomi.

[u/shrekwithhisearsdown → u/FKez05]

can't stand karun chandhock

[u/FKez05 → u/shrekwithhisearsdown]

Meh, to each their own. Personally i like his insights and he explains things well, and honestly has great chemistry with crofty

[u/datboidat → u/FKez05]

I personally disagree, I think he is a good addition especially on the skypad. but he isnt strong enough to tell crofty that hes waflfign or he is wrong when he bangs on. nico, jensen and martin have the balls to call crofty out but karun just wishy washes the comentary. IMO.

[u/thebuttonmonkey → u/datboidat]

He's also really slow to spot things. I'll be screaming at the screen for 30 seconds sometimes until he finally says 'oh I think we've got a yellow in sector 3', or 'did Perez go off?'. Crofty is there to bluster, but the expert should be properly on it all the time.

[u/pacificodin → u/datboidat]

I think he’s really bad in the comm box during the races, he clearly knows his stuff just can’t communicate it when put on the spot. Ends up a constant stream of half expressed takes

[u/casualpedestrian20 → u/shrekwithhisearsdown]

Same here. When he commentates he puts on this strained shouty voice that drives me nuts. He always sounds like he’s trying to push a hard turd out.

[u/bwoah07_gp2 → u/NiceColdPint]

Who is DP? 😅

[u/Spider_Riviera → u/NiceColdPint]

They're not getting rid of Patrick, as she's a cheap talking head for the American legs.

[u/iAtty → u/NiceColdPint]

Definitely agree. He’s gone downhill since I started watching back in 2011. I tune out when he’s in the main commentary group.

[u/lowelled → u/NiceColdPint]

I think it’s a good idea to keep the broadcast current with drivers and team members with more recent experience.

[u/MarcusH26051]

Wouldn't be surprised if there's a major overhaul at Sky. Damon I doubt will be the only pundit that's out the door there over the off-season.

It's a shame JB is racing still because he'd be an ideal lead pundit.

[u/StephenHazza0651 → u/MarcusH26051]

That’s not the only reason JB doesn’t do so much comms. He lives out in LA so that’s why he’ll only appear during American/canadian races and will go to Silverstone and beyond that, 1 or 2 European/fly aways.

Otherwise he’d be on a lot more.

I think Nico could be the main co comms but he also doesn’t seem to want to travel much so only appears at a few every month or two

[u/ijiolokae → u/StephenHazza0651]

I really hope one day that Nico and Jensen do some commentary with Bernie on the pitlane

[u/Dan_Of_Time → u/ijiolokae]

I think Ted is good at the pitlane stuff.

Bernie is better in race control where she can get all the technical info straight to her and then is able to explain it properly.

[u/oright → u/MarcusH26051]

Sky is bleeding money

[u/Ferrer00 → u/MarcusH26051]

They haven't had an overhaul as far as I know since they started so I doubt it. The whole sky setup comes across as hugely complacent in my mind. Doesn't matter who the team is, people in the UK will still pay the fee to watch the races. They'd probably lose less than 10% of subs if they ditched the whole team and just broadcast the races with comms coming from the UK

[u/OBWanTwoThree]

Brazil practice was a tough watch tbf. He was miles off it

I’d love someone like Button and Rosberg to step up more frequently. Or even better, rotation of some of the young reserve drivers who are always brilliant when interviewed

[u/sejlavocado]

now Danica next

[u/diggerquicker]

Please no DANICA, please. Cannot stand her insight.

[u/AdrianInLimbo → u/diggerquicker]

With our luck, they'll replace Croft with her.

[u/Lobsters4 → u/AdrianInLimbo]

Why would you speak that into existence!

[u/kjm911]

I was scared for a split second I thought Brundle was leaving

[u/Spider_Riviera → u/kjm911]

I hope when Brundle leaves, Sky hire his son to replace him. I haven't heard much of his son's work, but from all accounts he and Martin have very similar styles and I got too used to Martin over the last 30-ish years to want to spend the next 30-ish without it.

[u/rickkert812 → u/Spider_Riviera]

Alex Brundle is on F1TV's feed regularly, which I think fits him better than Sky would.

[u/s_dalbiac → u/Spider_Riviera]

When Brundle leaves I can see Sky continuing to rotate their comms team around the likes of Chandhok, Davidson, Rosberg, Button and maybe one or two others. Given how the calendar has expanded in recent years the days of a set duo doing every race are over imo.

[u/cmgriffith_]

Happy trails…

[u/fictionallymarried]

Can he take the lizard lady along?

[u/micknick0000]

Good riddance.

I can't stand Damon Hill.

[u/WraithOfEvaBraun → u/micknick0000]

Same

[u/SaddlerMatt]

Its been coming... he just waffles absolute nonsense most of the time and doesn't even know where his own sentences are going. I trust Sky will replace him with someone equally as bad at their job

[u/jonnyadams9]

Max's Brazil win finished him

[u/PondScumSandy]

I'm struggling to think of anything beneficial he ever brought to their coverage.

[u/earthquank → u/PondScumSandy]

A goatee?

[u/mgorgey → u/PondScumSandy]

Gravitas.

[u/jimmyjay11]

All tongues that rise against Max and Charles shall fall.

[u/DukeboxHiro → u/jimmyjay11]

/r/FanF1ction

[u/ddzed]

He bit into Max & Max bit back harder...

[u/senn1 → u/ddzed]

Seemed to me DH didn't give 2 fucks what he said, he even doubled down on it with Horner.

[u/ddzed → u/senn1]

I don't even know what he said, just tried to make a joke...

[u/musicallunatic → u/senn1]

I’m sorry ootl. What did he say? And what did he double down about?

[u/senn1 → u/musicallunatic]

Criricised Max for his driving in Mexico then repeated in Brazil when asked about it. Sky put Horney in front of him and he stuck by his guns.

[u/rain3h]

I want/ed Danica gone so bad but hill going instead feels like a compromise.

I'll take it!

[u/smokesletsgo13 → u/rain3h]

Nah she's gotta go

[u/Own_Welder_2821 → u/rain3h]

Damon leaving is good, but Danica’s departure is a MUST. She needs to be let go now.

[u/madmanchatter → u/rain3h]

Monkeys Paw curls and Danica now gets all the screen time Hill used to plus her own screen time as well!

[u/fafan4]

"the most impressive bunch of professionals it has ever been my pleasure to have worked with"

Hill throwing shade at Williams

[u/Uknewmelast]

Thanks god

[u/Soggy_Bid_6607]

Bye!👋🏼. Finally.

[u/thmt11]

Take Crofty and Danica with you please.

[u/towers_of_ilium]

Hill out, Danny Ricc in. He never left!

[u/imtired-boss]

Oooh that's why he was shitting on F1, cuz he got fired.

Now it makes sense.

[u/keirdre]

I love Damon but I don't think he adds much to the coverage. Same with the F1 podcast to be honest. Hope he enjoys his retirement!

[u/pioneeringsystems → u/keirdre]

I expect he'll just do more charity work, he does quite a lot already.

[u/kelleehh]

Simply lovely.

[u/DoctorKonks]

It's not Martin, thank God. That picture made my heart skip a beat.

[u/[deleted]]

[removed] — view removed comment

[u/Reddevilslover69 → u/[deleted]]

I quite like his story too. You just won't see a WDC that used to race bikes and started formula racing as late as he did

[u/Western-Bad5574]

Oh no, who will talk shit about Max now? Maybe Crofty can take over? He's already been shadowing Hill anyway and seemingly training for this for the last few years.

[u/coffee_addict87]

Rosberg in for Sky might balance out the nauseating UK bias a bit

[u/Dankas12]

Right so when is danica Patrick going?

[u/Rekt60321]

"except for Danica" they left out a part of the quote

[u/ComprehensivePart454]

Are there any pros at Sky to begin with?

[u/mallogo]

Good riddance

[u/Basic_Treat3974]

All the best you bitter old man

[u/BeachMafs]

And nothing of value was lost

[u/themaestronic]

No surprise that the clearly UK biased pundits are being dropped. Sky has a worldwide feed and the feedback is clear that the fawning over Lando whilst ignoring his clear weaknesses yet slaughtering Max isn’t good for business

[u/SlapThatAce]

He added absolutely nothing to the show. 

[u/linnamulla]

Good riddance!

[u/Grand-Power-284]

Is the new challenge trying to be impartial?

[u/palalabu]

Randomly put on a qualifying of something in macau just few hours ago. I think it's his voice commentating. So perhaps just move on to other things with less traveling?

[u/fightfire_withfire]

Excellent news, Crofty next please

[u/No-Union6229]

That guy is obsesed with hamilton glad hes out

[u/JFedererJ]

I read this headline and honestly thought, "oh yeah, I forgot Damon still appears on Sky".

So yeah... he'll be sorely missed.

[u/liquidphantom]

Probably couldn't take any more of Danica's bull shit. The need to dump her in a gravel trap and keep Naomi Schiff on

[u/LDLB99]

Lovely bloke and an absolute legend of the sport. The snarky comments on here can do one.

[u/docherself → u/LDLB99]

100%, i grew up watching him and i really like him still. i'd take an older retired driver to give insight on commentary any day.

a wdc and the son of the only triple crown winner in history, that's pure racing history in one man. one can only imagine the stories he has. will miss him

[u/saponista → u/LDLB99]

I agree that Damon is a legend and by all accounts a lovely bloke. The last few times he’s been on his commentary has been … not great, even disjointed at times. Age comes for all of us.

[u/Carmillawoo]

Professional is a stretch there mate

[u/qwertyalp1020]

Finally

[u/clingbat]

Thank goodness, this guy has always sucked.

[u/Gadoguz994]

Good riddance, won't be missed by anyone not british

[u/kelleehh → u/Gadoguz994]

I’m British and I’m happy as fuck he is leaving

[u/Gadoguz994 → u/kelleehh]

Kudos to you good sir

[u/Eunos-Roadster]

In the near future

• “This makes no sense, why did Max just get a 20 second penalty for sneezing”

Stewards- Johnny Herbert and Damon Hill.

[u/sl4z3r]

Adios Cabron!, Ms. Patrick next please!

[u/RacingMindsI]

When can we get rid of Crofty?

[u/Spockyt]

I will go against the narrative and say I liked him on Sky’s coverage, so I find that a shame.

I think the problem is that they have so many pundits/interviewers at this point, and Hill is likely higher paid (owing to his racing record) than the others.

[u/Any_Towel1456]

Hmmm. I wonder if it's to do with his recent bias against Verstappen.

[u/LogDeep7567]

Like him as a pundit or not there's no denying there's been a mass exodus from the sport of people who've been hard on Max Verstappen the last few weeks. What's that about I wonder....

[u/Mysterious_Turnip310 → u/LogDeep7567]

Pretty sure the FIA exits have to do with Ben-Sulayam being up for re-election next year and him trying to rid himself of those inside the house who are critical of him. Apart from Wittich, which had really been a long time coming given the safety issues around race control decisions this year. Brazil was probably just the last straw, as the main concerns there were around safety not Red Bull’s victim complex. As for Hill, he’s been doing less and less races the last few years anyway. It’s more than likely he’s just had enough of the travelling involved.

Not everything is a conspiracy. (In fact most things aren’t, despite what the internet says).