An advert on Sky Sports, featuring Max Verstappen’s British Grand Prix crash, has been removed after Red Bull made a complaint to the broadcaster.
The short bumper shows slow-motion footage of Verstappen’s huge Silverstone crash, with a message then appearing on-screen which says ‘Merry Christmas’.
Verstappen had to be taken to hospital following the enormous 51G impact, which occurred as a result of contact with title rival Lewis Hamilton at the fast Copse corner.
Hamilton was handed a ten-second time penalty for the incident, but still went on to dominate the race and claim victory.
Red Bull branded the Christmas advert “very poor taste” and made a complaint to Sky, which has resulted in it being pulled from coverage this weekend.
A spokesperson added: “We are extremely disappointed that images are being used of a crash, in which someone ended up in hospital,” they told De Telegraaf. “This is in very bad taste. We hope it will be removed soon.”
Sky has informed Red Bull that it will no longer run the bumper.
Another incident between the two drivers features in a second advert. The collision between Hamilton and Verstappen at the Italian GP, which resulted in both drivers retiring, as Verstappen’s Red Bull was launched over Hamilton’s Mercedes, coming to a rest atop the W12.
The championship comes down to one race this weekend, the final in Abu Dhabi, with Hamilton and Verstappen tied on points, albeit with the latter taking a win advantage into the race should they finish level on points through retirement.
