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Broadcaster Sky Sports activities has been pressured to tug a ‘disrespectful’ TV advert which wished F1 followers a “Merry Christmas” whereas displaying footage of Max Verstappen’s surprising crash on the British Grand Prix earlier this season.
Purple Bull racer Verstappen and Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton are gearing up for an exciting finale this weekend as they head into the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix degree on factors.
The build-up to the race has been tense with challenger Verstappen accused of reckless driving final time spherical in Saudi Arabia, the place Hamilton took the checkered flag to maneuver onto 369.5 factors alongside the Dutchman.
The pair have clashed often all through their title battle this season – together with at Silverstone again in July, when a collision resulted in Verstappen plowing into the trackside boundaries.
The Dutchman reportedly misplaced consciousness within the affect and was airlifted to hospital for precautionary checks earlier than being cleared.
Predictably, there was outrage amongst some F1 followers when Sky Sports activities used the incident in an advert aired throughout a observe session at Abu Dhabi on Friday.
After a slow-motion reply of the crash, a “Merry Christmas” message appeared on display, making clear Sky’s loyalties to British star Hamilton as he seeks to win a report eighth world title.
“Who considered this? Who edited this? Who authorized of this? That is so disrespectful to make use of a crash as a Christmas greeting,” tweeted one indignant fan who shared the advert.
Purple Bull officers are mentioned to have complained to the broadcaster, which pulled the advert from its protection.
“A 51G crash the place the driving force was airlifted to hospital getting used as a Merry Christmas message could be very poor style certainly,” a crew spokesperson advised Racing Information 365.
Purple Bull crew boss Christian Horner has already accused rivals Mercedes of waging a smear marketing campaign in opposition to the 24-year-old Verstappen in a bid to painting him as a reckless racer and face extra scrutiny from stewards.
“In fact it’s been a concerted marketing campaign by Mercedes. Completely,” mentioned Horner.
“It’s been a part of a story to place as a lot strain on the stewards to behave in another way from another race.
“It is a marketing campaign that’s been pushed covertly to place the highlight on Max, give him a tag-line, painting him as this mad, irresponsible driver, put as a lot strain as you possibly can on him, on the crew, and finally on the governing physique.
“We noticed in Brazil, the feedback concerning the penalties being laughable, or Lewis being persecuted. Mercedes have gotten one of many smartest media arms within the paddock they usually use each device they’ll.”
Within the occasion that neither Hamilton nor Verstappen finishes Sunday’s grand finale at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit, it will be the Dutchman who claims a maiden championship as he has gained extra races all through the season.
Maybe in anticipation of some heated racing, governing physique the FIA has emphasised that guidelines are in place for factors to be deducted from drivers within the occasion of “unsportsmanlike” racing or actions that are “opposite to sporting ethics.”
“I believe with all of the controversies we had in the previous couple of races, it is rather good that the FIA have come out with a reminder of what the ISC [international sporting code] stands for,” mentioned Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
Hamilton, 36, is concentrating on a fifth world title in a row and an unprecedented eighth general, which might transfer him forward of German legend Michael Schumacher on the prime of the all-time record.
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