29 April 2023 , 16:10
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Sky Sports F1 commentators David Croft and Karun Chandhok could not help but make a number of references to Taylor Swift during qualifying at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
It comes amid rumours that Swift is dating two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso after they both split from respective partners Joe Alwyn and Andrea Schlager. Alonso has also fuelled the rumours, making a cheeky post on TikTok with Swift's song 'Karma' playing in the background.
He then dodged questions about Swift in Azerbaijan, telling Sky Sports he was "just focused on Baku and racing" before adding to Spanish outlet Marca: "I usually keep my personal and professional life apart. I prefer not to comment on it."
However, with speculation continuing to swirl about Alonso and Swift, the Sky Sports commentators could not resist referencing the pop star and several of her hit songs. During qualifying, Croft praised a "swift drive from Fernando Alonso" and joked it was as if he was driving a getaway car - a song from Swift's 2017 album Reputation.
He also joked that Alonso was "looking for that blank space", while Chandhok also referenced the 2014 hit by saying: "Fernando Alonso's found a bit of blank space there ahead of him… with Lewis Hamilton half a straight ahead."
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Chandhok continued with the references, adding "at least he can say 'don't blame me, it's a car issue'", with 'Don't Blame Me' also a song from Swift's Reputation album.
Croft then made a double reference to Swift's 2015 hit 'Style' and 2022 release 'Would've, Could've, Should've' as he said: "Maybe that's Alonso's style and maybe at the end they'll say 'would've, could've, should've'".
The Sky Sports F1 commentators made several references to Swift and her songs during qualifying at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Getty Images)Croft was not done there though as he continued with further references to Swift's songs Mastermind and 22, joking that the latter was "of course now our favourite song and number".
Alonso ended up finishing sixth in qualifying, with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc pipping defending champion Max Verstappen to pole. In the sprint race on Saturday, Alonso also finished sixth but was left furious with Carlos Sainz.
"Yeah, I passed Alex [Albon] and then Lewis into Turn 1, and Carlos as well," Alonso fumed. But Carlos put me into the wall at the entry of Turn 2. So I had to lift off. If I didn’t lift off, we would have both crashed. I hope the FIA will look at this now and maybe a top five is still possible."