Former F1 world champion calls time on his stint as a pundit on Sky Sports

Former F1 world champion Damon Hill has announced that he would be leaving British media outlet Sky Sports at the end of the 2024 season. The 1996 world champion had an illustrious career as a driver in the sport in the 90s which saw him win 22 races in eight years.

He retired from the pinnacle of motorsport at the end of the 1999 season whilst racing for Jordan and shifted his focus to management and punditry in his post-retirement career. At the beginning of the 2012 season, he was hired by Sky Sports as one of the pundits, a role he continues to date.

On his social media platform, X on Friday (November 15), Damon Hill announced that he would be leaving the organization after the next three races and will shift his focus to "new challenges". He wrote:

"It's 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."

F1 pundit responds to Max Verstappen's comments in Brazil

The former Williams F1 driver had recently found himself at loggerheads with Red Bull and three-time world champion Max Verstappen after the former criticized the Dutchman for his driving at the Mexican GP against Lando Norris. The 27-year-old retaliated to the Brit by claiming that he did not pay attention to "those individuals".

F1 pundit Damon Hill believes that Max Verstappen was using "fear" and "intimidation" to shut down the former's criticism regarding his driving.

Speaking with Sky Sports, the 64-year-old said (via Planet F1):

"I think that he’s using fear and intimidation, but I think he also has explained a little bit more about his tactics, which has been that he regards it as a gamble. Sometimes it may pay off, sometimes he may get the better of the stewards. They might not apply a penalty and are also using it as a way of compromising the title contender in Lando Norris. So there is some logic.

"There’s some method to his angriness if you want to call it that, on the track, but as he says, he knows what he’s doing, but is it right and is it fair? I think there is also a rule somewhere, and the regulations have said that everyone has to drive…they’re there to ensure fairness, and we shouldn’t be condoning driving cars off the track.”

Earlier this month, the Dutchman silenced his critics with his exceptional performance at the Brazilian GP that saw him register his eighth win of the season, starting from P17 in treacherous conditions.

Max Verstappen currently leads the driver's championship from Lando Norris by 62 points, with three races and one Sprint remaining this year.