
via Imago
Austrian Grand Prix Preparations Max Verstappen NED Red Bull Racing talks with Ted Kravitz GBR Sky TV at Formula One World Championship, WM, Weltmeisterschaft Rd9, Austrian Grand Prix, Preparations, Spielberg, Austria, Thursday 6 July 2017. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY dcd1706jy308

via Imago
Austrian Grand Prix Preparations Max Verstappen NED Red Bull Racing talks with Ted Kravitz GBR Sky TV at Formula One World Championship, WM, Weltmeisterschaft Rd9, Austrian Grand Prix, Preparations, Spielberg, Austria, Thursday 6 July 2017. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY dcd1706jy308
The 2021 Abu Dhabi finale remains one of the most controversial topics in F1 to this day. The topic left even the most neutral parties, the journalists, divided over Max Verstappen‘s maiden title’s legitimacy. That was after the FIA dubbed Michael Masi’s decision that practically gifted Verstappen the championship a “human error”. Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz, last year mentioned the word “robbed” for Lewis Hamilton and the 8th world title. That led to a tremendous uproar in the Red Bull camp, which boycott the broadcaster for almost two weeks following the incident. Kravitz has now hit back, reviving the controversy once again.
Tasked with his usual duties of reporting from the pit lane, Ted was reporting post-race from COTA. While walking down the pit lane and discussing Hamilton and Verstappen’s epic 2021 battle, he mentioned the word “robbed” multiple times. The comments did not go down well with Max Verstappen who felt the coverage was “disrespectful”. Resultantly, he and the entire team decided to boycott Sky Sports for the Mexican GP and rescinded it in Brazil.

via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – March 4, 2023 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates after qualifying in pole position REUTERS/Nir Elias
Kravitz, however, remains adamant about speaking his mind. In a recent interview with Independent UK, he said, “People can misinterpret or not like what I say, but I’ll always say things the way I see them and how a reasonable F1 fan might see things.”
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“They might not like that. But if you’re true to yourself and accurate – I will always correct myself if not. But I think people mostly like it and that’s fine. I get embarrassed by it all to be honest.”
In his 27 years of F1 journalism, Ted has reported from the pit lane for 22 years. Over all these years, he has amassed quite a popularity for himself. However, it is something he still cannot take well to.
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Ted Kravitz feels his fame is undeserved
Practicing his craft of F1 reporting for 27 years has made Kravitz one of the most sought-after F1 journalists out there. His experience has got him to where he is today and fans revere him for it. However, he does not take too well to his fame.

via Imago
Formula 1 2022: British GP SILVERSTONE CIRCUIT, UNITED KINGDOM – JUNE 30: Ted Kravitz, Sky TV, meets some fans during the British GP at Silverstone Circuit on Thursday June 30, 2022 in Northamptonshire, United Kingdom. Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images Images PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY GP2210_163430MS1_4487
When the interviewer asked him about what he makes of his popularity, he answered, “I’m just a schlub in shorts, as my grandmother might call me! It makes my toes curl hearing you say that. I don’t want to think about it, I appreciate it if people like what I do. I just tell the stories like it is and how I see it–and if that gets me into a scrape here or there, that’s part of the game too.”
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Watch This Story: Max Verstappen: ‘Is my title tarnished? Not at all. I really deserved it’
Do you think Kravitz’s comments were uncalled for? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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