Sky reportedly approaches Red Bull to clear the air

Back in Mexico, Red Bull and Max Verstappen both took a joint decision not to give any interviews to any Sky Sports channel over the course of the weekend in Mexico City.

Their reason was the statements by Sky Sport F1's Ted Kravitz in his "Ted's Noebook" feature at Auston where he insinuated that Verstappen has "robbed" Lewis Hamilton from an eighth Formula 1 Title in the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi, following a controversially administered Safety Car.

The FIA, after an investigation admitted there was human error, and Race Director Michael Masi was fired as a result, but nothing since then has put this matter to bed.

In his Notebook commenting on the United States Grand Prix, Kravtiz 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 One and design, and pretty much because of [Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s lead car designer] over there,” Kravitz added.

That was the reason behind Verstappen's decision to boycott Sky Sports in Mexico, some his team agreed with and followed suit with team boss Christian Horner admitting his disappointment with what he labeled as derogatory comments from the broadcaster regarding Verstappen.

“It had nothing to do with this weekend. But this year, it’s been a constant… kind of like digging, being disrespectful, especially one particular person," Verstappen said claiming accumulation of factors.

“And at one point it’s enough you know? I don’t accept it. You can’t live in the past, you just have to move on. At the moment, social media is a very toxic place. And if you are constantly being like that, live on TV, you make it only worse instead of trying to make it better in the world.

“You keep being… You keep disrespecting me, and one point I’m not tolerating it anymore, so that’s why I decided to stop answering,” the 2021 and 2022 F1 Champion added.

However, The Daily Mail, in what they called an exclusive report revealed that Sky Sports are working to close the dispute with Red Bull.

The report claimed that: "Sky Sports’ Formula 1 director, Billy McGinty, is due to visit Red Bull’s factory on Monday as the two side’s kiss and make up after their row at the Mexican Grand Prix."

The report added that: "Sky Sports managing director Jonathan Licht and McGinty have been in touch with Red Bull and that both sides have decided to draw a line under the fallout. McGinty’s visit to Milton Keynes is part of the reconciliation process."

Over the weekend in Las Vegas, Sergio Perez - along with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell - was being interviewed at the launch party by Sky's David Croft, who was teased by Russell who asked "Crofty" if he can speak to Perez.

Croft replied: "Yes, I am tonight. I’ve got special permission, so don’t start on me!", and went on to ask Perez if he can interview him, the Mexican joking: "They [his Red Bull team] are not here!"

However, Croft was being a bit naughty during the interview, as he asked the three driver if it would the "coolest" place to win a Title in Vegas, Russell referring him to Hamilton.

“Well, this guys got seven of them so he can probably tell you more," Russell pointed out, after which Crofty said: "Someone’s saying he won eight."