Sky F1 boycott in Mexico due to ‘constant’ disrespect

Over the weekend of the Mexican Grand Prix, it emerged that Verstappen and the wider Red Bull team had not taken part in interviews with Sky Sports on all regional channels in the UK, Germany and Italy.

It appeared to be a reaction to a clip from Sky Sports’ F1 coverage of the US Grand Prix in the UK, where pit reporter Ted Kravitz used the word “robbed” several times when discussing Lewis Hamilton’s title loss to Verstappen in 2021.

Verstappen explained his decision not to speak to Sky after the race: “He had nothing to do this weekend.

“But this year it’s been constant … yeah, like a daily disrespect, especially to one particular person. And that’s enough, I don’t accept it.

“You can’t live in the past. You just have to move on. Social media is a very toxic place, and if you’re going to be like that on live TV all the time, you’re only making it worse, not trying to make it better.

“You keep disrespecting me and at some point I can’t take it anymore. That’s why I decided to stop answering them.”

Sky broadcast an interview with Verstappen after his record 14th win of the season in Mexico on Sunday, but it was supplied by F1 itself, as are all broadcasters.

Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner explained that the team was “disappointed by a series of disparaging comments made on Sky” which prompted the decision to “take a break” this weekend.

“There has to be a balance in the comments,” he said. “Some of the comments are great, but some bits are too sensational. We stand together as a team.”

Horner said the decision was to “express our displeasure with some of the less impartial comments that are being made or some of the accusations that are being made at times”, but that “service will be restored” from the next race in Brazil.

“I think the accusation of stealing championships is something that we don’t think is an unbiased comment,” Horner said. “That is, we do not feel in any way fair or balanced.

“Max was very upset by this and as a team we fully support him. We were equally upset about it. As a team, we made a decision this weekend, I made a decision that we’re going to have an off day.”

Asked if he thought Red Bull was getting the same treatment as other teams from the broadcasters, Horner said: “I think Red Bull is a cheap target sometimes.”