Sky F1 embarrassment continues at Vegas launch

· by · in Daily F1 News and Comment. ·

The Formula One 2023 calendar was set for 24 race weekends with Vegas the new glittering addition to the collection. Formula One have taken the highly unusual step to purchase an entire block of real estate around the planned layout to build a permanent F1 facility. The infrastructure for F1 events is usually the responsibility of the race promoter.

There was a lunch party this weekend in Nevada’s Sin City which included Sergio Perez demonstrating a current era F1 car from Caesar’s Palace car park along the Las Vegas Boulevard.

Perez was later joined on stage by Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Alex Albon to be interviewed before the assembled crowd. This was followed by an after party which saw Lewis whipping up the party goers alongside DJ Alesso.

 

 

Sky F1 row with Red Bull resurfaces

Yet the recent row between Red bull Racing and Sky F1 surfaced during the event.

Following comments made by Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz about Lewis Hamilton being “robbed” of the race win last season in Abu Dhabi and consequently an eight drivers’ F1 title, the Red Bull team boycotted all interviews with Sky Germany, Italia and UK broadcasters at the recent Mexican GP.

Max Verstappen felt the British broadcaster was persistently disrespecting his achievements.

“It [the Sky boycott] had nothing to do with this weekend but this year. It has been a constant kind of digging and being disrespectful, especially from one particular person. At one point it is enough and I don’t accept it.”

‘You cannot live in the past and you have to move on. Social media is a very toxic place and if you are constantly being like that live on TV that you are making it worst instead of trying to make it better.

‘You keep disrespecting me and at one point I will not tolerate it anymore and that is why I decided to stop answering.’”

 

 

Horner marks Uk broadcaster’s card

Sky F1 were embarrassed as their Mexican paddock podium race winner seat remained empty when Max Verstappen refused their invitation to be interviewed.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner backed his star driver as the entire team were told to boycott conversations with Sky.

“It won’t have done Sky any harm for us to lay down a marker,” Horner explained.

“Some of the commentary is fair but some pieces are sensationalist, and saying we robbed anyone of the championship, as was said in Austin, is going too far.”

“It is not impartial or fair or balanced. We have said our piece and will go back to normal next race.” 

 

 

Russell jibe at Sky’s David Croft

Of course the Vegas launch party was before the next race in Brazil and with Perez in attendance together with Sky F1 commentators interviewing the drivers, the stage was set for a highly embarrassing snub for Sky.

Sergio Perez arrived on stage to the cry ‘Checo Checo’ from the assembled masses however George Russell decided to use the moment to take a jibe at Sky’s David Croft over the Sky standoff with the Red Bull team personnel.

“Are you allowed to ask Red Bull drivers questions Crofty?” quipped Russell.

Croft replied, “Yeah, I am tonight. I’ve got special permission tonight. Don’t start on me,” the commentator retorted.

David Croft was co-hosting with South African race Naomi Schiff and Crofty jokingly asked Sergio whether he was “allowed to answer”.

Perez paused and looked away off stage almost as though he was seeking guidance before laughing joking, “they’re not here.”

Schiff then brushed away the moment of awkwardness with the line, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”

 

 

Brundle joins the controversy 

Martin Brundle last week jumped to the defence of his Sky co-commentator on twitter stating, “For the avoidance of doubt my friend and colleague for the past 26 years @tedkravitz has my full support.”

Given Christian Horner had already stated the boycott would cease next time out in Brazil, the British ex-F1 racer then pointlessly added:

“Face to face dialogue is the only way to sort out issues and disputes in the relentless crucible of the F1 paddock. We all have opinions and different jobs to do, that’s life.”

It will be fascinating when Kravitz first interviews Max Verstappen in San Paulo. The experienced pit lane reporter is known for not shirking the issues or asking the difficult questions.

Yet Kravitz delivers much of his commentary on a jovial manner as indeed were the nature of his comments in Austin that caused the Red bull furore.

Whether Ted will attempt to make light of the issue and create another storm with his jovial manner is yet to be seen. So the Thursday driver press conference this week in Brazil may have a much larger TV audience than usual.

READ MORE: Wolff’s shocking admission affects Hamilton’s hopes

5 responses to “Sky F1 embarrassment continues at Vegas launch”

  1. Sky Italy, UK and Germany all need to change there presenter lineup, they are all becoming to opinated driving a constant agenda, F1 is for the fans not for a satellite broadcaster to determine fan views, I personally have given up watching buildup shows and would prefer F1 getting back to basics… Racing, get rid of Ted, Natalie, De Resta, and Anthony would be a good start

  2. Namby pamby idiots need to get their heads out of the clouds, I don’t care what Anybody says, rules are rules and the result was an absolute disgrace which everybody knows, but if he’s happy winning by default then he must be a very sad person.

      • And like I said the other day Duckey, if the shoe were on the other foot, you would be saying exactly the same thing.

        And, like I also said, Kravitz wasn’t directing the “robbed” comment at Max or Redbull… it was directed at the race director

  3. Hamilton was robbed, nothing controversial in that statement. He was robbed by the FIA and subsequently it comes to light that Red Bull broke the budget cap. That was the reason behind this “boycott” – to divert attention away from the cost cap row (which appears to have worked).

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.