David Croft, the voice of Formula 1 on Sky Sports, is conspicuously absent from the commentary box at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The man affectionately known as “Crofty” has been the lead commentator for Sky since 2012, and before that, he held the same role for BBC Radio 5 Live. His absence is notable, as he’s only missed one race in the past 17 years – the 2007 European Grand Prix, when his son was born.

So, what’s the reason for Crofty’s absence? Earlier this year, he agreed with Sky to take three race weekends off during the 2023 season. The first was the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May, followed by the Austrian Grand Prix in late June. Now, he’s sitting out the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, hot on the heels of his wedding to fiancée Laura Bradley earlier this month.

The happy couple tied the knot in the south of France, with a host of Sky Sports F1 colleagues in attendance, including Martin Brundle, Damon Hill, Natalie Pinkham, Karun Chandhok, Simon Lazenby, Bernie Collins, Anthony Davidson, and Ted Kravitz. They later made it official with a ceremony at The Shard in London.

Crofty’s decision to take a break comes as the Formula 1 calendar becomes increasingly demanding, with a record-breaking 24 race weekends this season. He cited a desire to spend more time with his loved ones and to stay fresh for the entire season as the main reasons for his sabbatical.

In Crofty’s absence, Harry Benjamin has stepped up to the plate as Sky Sports F1’s lead commentator. Benjamin, who was appointed lead commentator for BBC Radio 5 Live in the summer of 2023, has previously been heard commentating on Formula 2, Formula 3, and the inaugural season of the all-women’s F1 Academy series.

While Crofty enjoys his well-deserved break, he’s looking forward to watching the races as a fan and potentially learning a thing or two from the viewer’s perspective. And who knows, maybe he’ll even pick up a few tips for his signature “lights out, and away we go” catchphrase.