Formula 1 has transformed dramatically in recent years. Official figures released earlier this month reveal the sport now boasts 827 million fans globally, with 52 million based in the United States alone. The American market, once a challenge for F1 to penetrate, has seen remarkable growth, evidenced by the three races now held annually across the US.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix, despite ongoing teething problems in its third year, has emerged as the sport's modern flagship event. Fittingly, the man who has become the modern 'voice of F1' was first approached about the role in one of Sin City's notorious bars.

"A friend of mine, who happened to be the producer of 5 Live Formula 1, suggested that I might make a good F1 commentator. I thought he was drunk, to be fair," David Croft recalled with a laugh. Known globally as 'Crofty', he has fronted Sky Sports F1's commentary coverage since the broadcaster secured the rights for the 2012 season.

However, his F1 commentary career actually spans two decades, having started in 2005 with BBC Radio. Croft initially dismissed his potentially intoxicated mate's suggestion, but when the proposal was raised again the next morning with clearer, albeit slightly hungover heads, the notion took hold.

Croft revealed: "He repeated it the next day and said that I should audition. I did, and passed the audition. I had to make up a lap off the top of my head. I think it was a first lap at Monza, I had to imagine that I was commentating on this lap.

"It took me back to when I was younger, when I used to pretend to be a sports commentator quite a lot because this is the job I always wanted to do. I'd be there with my Scalextric set pretending I was Murray Walker. 'Sensational, off he goes', and all that."

He secured a one-year contract to commentate on the 2005 season, but wasn't immediately convinced that it was the right career move for him. Croft, previously recognised for his darts commentary and having covered a World Cup and a Summer Olympic Games for radio, confessed he felt out of his depth at times when he first transitioned to F1 work.

He admitted: "Honestly, about three races in, I thought, 'I don't really know enough here, even though I've done as much research as I can, I need to know a lot more'. There were struggles in that first year. Did I belong here? Was this a good fit? Am I enjoying it? Most of the time I was, but there were a few struggles.

"Then I got a contract for a second year and life became a lot nicer then. By the third, fourth year in Formula 1, you really feel like you started to belong a bit by that stage. When Sky came and got the rights and said, 'We'd like you to be our commentator', that was a complete no-brainer for me, because Sky do sport brilliantly. It's been brilliant to be a part of it, it really has."

The explosion in F1's popularity over recent years has thrust those regularly appearing on our screens into the spotlight - including Croft himself. These days, he's frequently in front of the camera rather than simply providing voice-over commentary, which means he's recognised far more when he's out and about. Whilst some might find that intrusive, Croft maintains: "It's quite lovely."

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He shared an anecdote: "I took my stepdaughter to see Tate McRae this year and she wore a Lando Norris top, because she's a big Lando Norris fan - they share the same birthday - and Tate McRae and Lando have that association as well. There were a lot of other people actually that night wearing papaya.

"After about an hour of being there, Ava turned to me and said, 'Do you get recognised like this everywhere you go?' I said, 'No, but there's obviously a lot of Lando fans here'. We were stopping a lot to say hi and to do selfies and that. It's lovely that F1 fans obviously know me and they know my voice, and I've given people enjoyment over the years, which is all I ever want to do."

In the commentary booth, his regular partner is Martin Brundle, whose expertise and standing in Formula 1 analysis is second to none. The pair have become such a legendary double act that when producers of the Brad Pitt F1 film released this year needed commentators for racing sequences, Lewis Hamilton, who worked as a producer, insisted they were the only choice.

"It's a privilege for people to invite Martin and myself into their lives and their living rooms," Croft said. "We try to reward that with something entertaining and enjoyable on a Sunday afternoon. If I'm a household name for people, that's absolutely incredible. But it's my job and it's my passion and I love it. I love talking."

Sky's on-screen broadcasting team has evolved in recent years, with former F1 drivers Johnny Herbert and Damon Hill making way for younger and more diverse presenters. However, Croft insists he's not going anywhere: "I'll be a part of it for many more years to come - we're only just getting going."