Christian Horner hits out at Sky’s ‘derogatory comments’ about Max Verstappen

Red Bull decided not to speak with Sky Sports at the Mexican Grand Prix, following a string of controversial commentary.

Max Verstappen felt disrespected this weekend when Ted Kravitz spoke on ‘Ted’s Notebook’ in Mexico about the Dutchman’s title winning season in 2021.

The Sky Sports pundit claimed that Lewis Hamilton was robbed of an eighth world title was said that he was hoping to see Hamilton beat the man who robbed him in the race, obviously referring to Verstappen.

The 25-year-old decided not to speak to any Sky Sports reporters and was joined by the rest of his team in the boycott, with team principal Christian Horner explaining Red Bull’s reason for their Sky silence.

“We’re obviously just disappointed with a series of derogatory comments that have been made on Sky, so we felt that this weekend we would just take a break,” he said.

READ: ‘I wasn’t stealing anything’: Martin Brundle has awkward interaction in Mexico

“It wouldn’t do Sky any harm us taking a break this weekend. There needs to be a balance in commentary.”

Verstappen initially described the boycott as indefinite, however Horner has now clarified that it will in fact just be a Mexico one-off, with the act of silence being more of a statement than boycott.

“At the next race, service will be resumed,” announced Horner.

“We just wanted to lay down a marker and say certain things aren’t acceptable and, as a team, we stand together, and we stand united as a team.

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“It was just for this weekend it was just to register our discontent in some of the less impartial comments that are made, or accusations that are sometimes made, as TV seems to be becoming ever more sensationalised.”

Sky Sports have had a record of a potential anti-Red Bull agenda, with footage emerging of some controversial commentary about Sebastian Vettel re-emerging from 2013, and last year’s Christmas advert featuring an accident in which Verstappen was lucky to escape without serious injury.

Horner has praised Sky Sports for the quality of its broadcast coverage, but warned the company that they have a duty to remain impartial.

“Some of the commentary’s excellent, but some of the pieces, there’s too much sensationalisation being done and we stand together as a team.

READ: Ted Kravitz abused by Max Verstappen fans

“We’ve been very clear, and it’s not just been Sky UK, it has been across all of the Sky channels, Germany, Italy.

“An accusation of championships being robbed is something we don’t feel is an impartial commentary. So, we don’t feel that is in any way fair or balanced.

“Red Bull are a cheap target sometimes,” he concluded.