Max Verstappen is reportedly boycotting Sky Sports in Mexico following comments made by Ted Kravitz at the United States Grand Prix last weekend. The Dutchman, who has already wrapped up his second successive title while boasting a whopping 124-point lead over second-place Charles Leclerc, is understood to be frustrated by suggestions that Lewis Hamilton was robbed of the 2021 title.
The integrity of Verstappen’s first-ever title was recently thrown into question after Red Bull were charged for breaching F1’s budget cap last season.
It was another bitter pill for seven-time world champion Hamilton to swallow, given the agonising nature of his deeply-frustrating final-lap defeat to Verstappen in Abu Dhabi 10 months ago.
Kravitz seemingly made reference to Hamilton’s misfortune last week in Texas – where Verstappen reigned supreme after overtaking his rival just five laps from the finish line – claiming he was robbed of the title…
The 48-year-old pit-lane reporter said: “[Hamilton] doesn’t win a race all year, and then finally comes back at a track where he could win the first race all year, battling the same guy who won the race he was robbed in the previous year, and manages to finish ahead of him.
“What a script and a story that would have been. But that’s not the way the script turned out today, was it?
“Because the guy that beat him after being robbed actually overtook him, because he’s got a quicker car, because of engineering and Formula 1 and design, and pretty much because of [Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s Chief Technical Officer] over there.”
According to RacingNews365, Verstappen is now refusing to appear on camera for Sky Sports or any of its affiliated channels at the Mexico Grand Prix.
The boycott is also said to impact Sky Germany and Sky Italia, in what could prove to be a difficult blow for the broadcaster during their coverage in Mexico City.
Kravitz also made a separate jibe at the United States Grand Prix, claiming Verstappen was not capable of winning a championship “in a normal way.”
He added: “Verstappen is around the [Austin] paddock, he seems very happy with himself. He doesn’t seem to be a driver capable of winning a championship in a normal way.”
Verstappen’s father Joshua is also reportedly outraged by Kravitz’s comments, backing his son’s decision to swerve any interviews with Sky cameras this weekend at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez Circuit.
Speaking before Red Bull accepted their breach agreement, Mercedes chief Toto Wolff declared he did not think the ruling should have any impact on the 2021 title, which has now been and gone.
The unparalleled drama of the season’s climax had initially scarred the Silver Arrows and Hamilton, who have now moved on from the events of the 2021 campaign.
“I don’t know the exact excess, but one or two million can decide a championship. The FIA has to make a meaningful decision,” The Austrian told Italian newspaper Gazetta dello Sport.
Before later adding: “I just don’t think the 2021 title should be in doubt anymore.”
Verstappen beat both Hamilton and George Russell (second) to pole in Mexico ahead of Sunday’s thrilling race.