Red Bull kept its staff off Sky in Mexico after Max Verstappen was left “very upset” by comments referring to his 2021 title win in Abu Dhabi.
Keith Collantine, RaceFans:
The team said this was not the first time this year they'd had cause to complain about Sky's coverage. Nor were their concerns limited to Sky's English‐language service — which broadcasts in the UK, USA and elsewhere — but some of its other channels too.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner indicated it was the description of Hamilton being “robbed” that had caused particular offence.
“Accusations of championships being ‘robbed’ is something that we don't feel is an impartial commentary,” he said in response to a question from RaceFans. “So obviously that, we don't feel, [is] in any way fair or balanced.”
Red Bull clearly felt slighted by Sky's coverage. Verstappen called their language “disrespectful” and Horner described it as “derogatory”. Whether or not you agree with them likely depends on your interpretation of “robbed” in this context: Was the intention to insinuate Red Bull “robbed” Hamilton of the title? Or is the team taking offence at the suggestion Hamilton was “robbed” by someone else and they indirectly benefited?
Masi lost his job as race director after breaking F1's rules in arranging a last‐lap restart in which Verstappen passed Hamilton to win the world championship. The fact of his error is widely acknowledged — even Horner has since admitted Masi made a “mistake”.
Having issues with other comments on Sky's broadcasts? Fine, give those instances as the reasons. But this example specifically? Ted's “robbed” comment? Nah, I'm still reading that as a critique against Michael Masi's decision, not againt Red Bull. Sky's UK broadcast team, including Kravitz, are very experienced. They know Formula 1, and they're not stupid. (I obviously don't watch Sky Germany or Sky Italy etc, but that's not what Horner has chosen to highlight specifically. And I'm sure they're also not stupid.)
Perhaps Max Verstappen and Christian Horner felt like, because the 2021 title hinged on Masi, they needed to defend him. Well, I would urge they shouldn't. In a way, Masi robbed Verstappen as well. Because of his decision that night — and others that year — that title is now forever slightly spoiled. However honest his Abu Dhabi mistake was, the controversy is not being unwritten. They need to live with that fact as well.
I don't know if any other journalist and commentator put this to them, but I think it'd be interesting to know their thoughts if it was the other way round. If Hamilton benefited from Masi's error, Kravitz was saying Verstappen was robbed, and Toto Wolff and Mercedes gave Sky the blackout.
“Max Verstappen deserved the 2021 title”, “Red Bull made the right call in Abu Dhabi that night”, and “Michael Masi made a howler of mistake” are not conflicting opinions to hold simultaneously.
