Verstappen and Red Bull confirm Sky F1 media boycott
Oct.31 - Max Verstappen broke all-time records on Sunday whilst admitting that he is boycotting the Formula 1 broadcaster Sky.
"We are definitely enjoying it and we'll try to go for more," said the back-to-back world champion, after breaking Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel's all-time record for the number of wins (now 14) in a single season.
In Mexico, he also raced past Lewis Hamilton's record (now 416) for the number of points scored in a season.
The Red Bull Racing team stand on the grid during the 2022 F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
But while the Dutchman and Red Bull are enjoying unprecedented success, Verstappen says the environment on social media has become "toxic".
In part, he blames UK broadcaster Sky Sports' pitlane reporter Ted Kravitz for a series of comments made live on television.
Kravitz said Verstappen, 25, "doesn't seem to be a driver capable of winning a championship in a normal way", and says Hamilton - who he has called an "eight time champion" - was "robbed" of the 2021 title.
"He (Verstappen) has got a quicker car because of engineering and Formula 1 and design, and pretty much because of him (Adrian Newey) over there," Kravitz also said.
As the course of the Mexico GP weekend progressed, it became clear not only that Verstappen was refusing to talk to Sky UK, Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland, but that Red Bull as a whole team was following suit.
Verstappen confirmed the boycott.
"This year, it's been a constant kind of like digging, being disrespectful, especially one particular person," he said. "And at one point it's enough, you know? I don't accept it.
"At the moment, social media is a very toxic place. And if you are constantly being like that, live on TV, you make it only worse instead of trying to make it better in the world.
"You keep disrespecting me, and one point I'm not tolerating it anymore. That's why I decided to stop answering," Verstappen added.
His boss, Christian Horner, backed his driver and confirmed that Red Bull had also boycotted the Sky broadcasters over the Mexican GP weekend.
"We're disappointed with a series of derogatory comments that have been made on Sky, so we felt this weekend we would take a break," he said.
"There needs to be balance in commentary. Some of the commentary is excellent, but some of the pieces, there is too much sensationalism being done.
"Max was very upset about it, and as a team we support him fully."
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Understandable.
When it comes to Lewis Hamilton, Sky sport almost as a whole, demonstrate an obsequious fawning aspect about their reporting that is awkward and unhealthy.
This past weekend in Mexico is another example where I had to wonder which race Blunder and Crusty were calling. According to them, Dame Lucille was gaining on MadMax and was about to pass him for the lead - when in fact, he was losing ground to Max and whinging about tires, or how fast Max was driving under the VSC. In the meantime, nary a word is uttered about this being the 14th win for Max in one season, and that Dame Lucille has yet to win a single race. God forbid they actually use facts when calling a race.
Ted Kravits' on-going lack of respect and monstrous prejudice against Max and Red Bull has become his 'signature'. Not only does it demonstrate a fundamental lack of ethical behaviour it tarnishes ALL journo's reporting on F1.
Sky sucks.
"Sky sucks."
Amen.
Makes me laugh how someone can blurt out insults in every post regarding LH yet moan and whinge about others not praising his hero.
Double standards from LittleAmericaEh
F6 - you are so myopic. Dame Lucille busily politicized Formula 1 single-handed when he brought the Black Live Matter movement into the paddock. From then till now, ANY whisper of criticism of The Dame is instantly labelled 'racism' by short-sighted twonks, such as you and your un-lettered ilk. In fact, you are still doing it when you label my comments "insults", when all I'm doing is iterating facts.
But, what you do is so indicative of the well nurtured self-loathing, entitled far-left. And like Kravitz, you are convinced your entirely subjective and biased opinions matter and instantly attack those whose view differs from your own. It will be your un-doing. Come into the light and be freed from the burden of self.
Once again Canadian I am impressed with your post, you put everything into it which makes an interesting read, tell me which university did you attend. He, he. Keep it up.
Well, thank you.
As a fellow canadian I also salute your intellect and the articulate way you express it. I also don’t see any insults besides in your commentary besides the humorous nicknames you have for lulu and his fans.
It seems like people like Kravitz have become to famous and grown a huge ego, that doesn't fit into their journalism heads anymore. They now think we are interested in their opinion.
I hope they can shrink their ego and report as professional journalists and give an impartial report about the facts and not about what they think. Journalism has nothing to do with opinions!
Kravitz likes to hear himself talk. To say LH was robbed was a personal opinion and what did he except MV to say, Gee,Ted you’re right. Brundle, Crofty and Kravitz act like they are on LH’s payroll. Tedious and ridiculous. NBC sports did a much better job, better coverage and better behind the scenes information. Hire Will Buxton and drop the other guys.
'NBC sports did a much better job,"
And they did it from a basement in North Carolina using the F1 feed, with only Buxton and a camera person onsite.
I think Ted talks to himself to much when he's strolling the paddock and sometimes makes mistakes because he don't know what else to say. Lol.
Kravitz talks too much. Making a comment that Hamilton was robbed after Abu Dhabi last yearto Verstappen was ridiculous. What did he except MV to say, “Gee, Ted you’re right”. Moron.
Brundle , Crofty, and Kravitz need to put a sock in it. Hire Will Buxton a real professional.
i listen to the races on BBC5 LIVE and just have Sky on for the live pictures, I think TK almost got the sack a while back , cant quite remember what for though, Brundle on the BBC and Itv was ok and I still rate him for his knowledge but on Sky...nawww Di riesta is ok, Danica, heard her bangin on about typres pre or post race, does Indy use different compounds?
i listen to the races on BBC5 LIVE and just have Sky on for the live pictures, I think TK almost got the sack a while back , cant quite remember what for though, Brundle on the BBC and Itv was ok and I still rate him for his knowledge but on Sky...nawww Di riesta is ok, Danica, heard her bangin on about tyres pre or post race, does Indy use different compounds?
Sky owes Max an apology, and needs to publicly reprimand Kravitz.Kravitz needs to issue a public apology to Max.
If Kravitz doesn't do that he needs to be sacked.
Hamilton is not an 8 time world champion no matter how many of his fans try to say so. Max won last year that is it. He is a legitimate double world champion.
So unless your an accountant, or can be really arsed to trawl through mission 44 accounts,what you'll see is that Sky are the 2nd largest contributor to Hannah's dream of helping more black caribbean youths, laughable is that Lewis described himself as "working class"
Anyway Skys love for Linda Lovelace will only stop when he retires, and the Sky team, not all of them will continue to big up her failures, but they are just pandering to Sky UK customers, NOT to the wider F1 fan base around the world, Ill bet heavily Sky Germany and Sky Italy fan base couldn't give a Toss about Lewis's"projects".I lived in Germany throughout the Real goats time, and it was Mental, Vettel/Msc jnr, just haven't captured the countries interest-- MS was to Germans 100% German, his look,his attitude/his style/esp his arrogance, now in a country of 83M they can only muster 1.5M viewers even with everything Lalas done, Germans couldn't care less.... i suspect its the same for Italian f1 fanbase.
So what does all this mean , Id say Sky are just milking "slh" for all they can While shes there, hence their coverage style.
All you couch potatoes should switch of sky, try to break your infatuation with Lewis, if you hate him so much stop watching him and get a life. All your endless derogatory posts say far more about you than him. Not healthy.
Wonder who Dutch pundits are behind?
“Hate and Racism” is used to shut down any and all conversations these days. It is used too conveniently. I don’t believe anyone hates Lewis or his being mixed race. What puts people off is his arrogance and super sized ego. He injected his politics into a sport that wasn’t looking for input. Lewis was a 7-time world champion, I haven’t read anyone challenging that. That fact that Mercedes built an incredible car for seven years in a row was very impressive, no argument there. Fortunately for Lewis, no one could challenge him for 7 years except Rosberg driving the other Mercedes. I’m not questioning his wins but a lot of people may have won 7 times in a row with an equally engineered car. Lewis just needs to step back a bit with the whining, complaining and excuses. Lewis should enjoy joy his successes and hope his car improves.
Well said Susan.
As Kim Jong-Un would say: "Eggsacry".
This will only end when Lindalovelace does a Nico, until then, because she is as she is, its fair game and extremely enjoyable with it, Oh no was that Racist?
Well said Susan, Hamilton is a (by most standards) class act. He dominated (his car) until F1 was almost unbearable. The sky team should get off of their "high-horse" and enough of the backhanded comments. How about some diversity? All (almost all) commentators from the UK? Too many Hamilton homers. Yes, more English twats telling everyone what to think, sorry the Empire disappeared Long ago.
shroppyfly said on November 1, 2022 at 09:58
And factually/historically it was the British , not the English Empire, If y0ur going to slag us off, at least get it right
At last! Well done Max, Christian & Red Bull for boycotting sky. Its About time sky was put in their place I'm fed up with their relentless biased reporting. Whatever happened to objective unbiased reporting?
I don't feel the need to comment further, as it's now crystal clear that I am not alone in my thoughts about Linda Lovelace and Sky.
Sorry, I'm off grid I know but I have to how disappointed I was to hear GRs comments on episode with sir Lulu at the race start. As I've been supporting GR since he joined f1 waiting for him to prove himself with the boys at the front fighting for the lead, I wasn't expecting him to say "if that wasn't my team mate that cut me up I would have taken him out" not very clever words after taking CS out at the last race. Come on GR your better than that, I HOPE.
I think The new King is in a spot of trouble, he has to listen to the family B***ox from T+L 24/7 it'll fry his head, or it would.., if he wasn't a headstrong and Imo smart lad, media savvy, yes hell make media faux pas and that's fine as long as nothing from that pair of muppets rubs off on him permanently .
In the politically correct world of F1, rattling off anything other than 'party line' is uncommon. Boi George's comment is a glimpse behind the veil - and a shot across Dame Lucille's bow. Having a rival hone's the edge for sure. A younger faster #2 team-mate for The Dame at this point in his career will also serve to highlight his considerable, but waning, talents.
I harken back to other rivalries: The Senna/Prost, Villeneuve/Pironi and Shumacher/Hill rivalries for example. The point being that massive ego's clashing on Formula 1 circuits don't always end well.
So, perhaps the "gloves are off" between the two Mercedes drivers. And unlike Bottas, I'm certain Boi George won't be so compliant.
I have no complaints if the case is between team mates bring it on, but,, if its a means of gaining points from the opposition its a big, NO, NO.,.
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