---
title: "Verstappen and Horner explain decision to boycott Sky F1 in Mexico"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2022/10/31/verstappen-and-horner-explain-decision-to-boycott-sky-f1-in-mexico/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2022-10-31T11:46:20Z"
modified: "2022-10-31T11:46:22Z"
---

# Verstappen and Horner explain decision to boycott Sky F1 in Mexico

Max Verstappen says he won’t tolerate the “constant” disrespect he has faced from Sky’s Formula 1 coverage this year anymore, explaining it was behind his decision to boycott interviews with the TV station in Mexico.

It emerged over the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend that Verstappen and Red Bull had opted to avoid interviews with all of Sky’s regional channels in the UK, Germany and Italy.

This is a response to a comment made by pit reporter Ted Kravitz during Sky F1’s UK coverage of the Unites States Grand Prix, in which he used the word “robbed” when discussing Lewis Hamilton’s title defeat to Verstappen last year.

Verstappen stressed the decision to not talk to Sky after the race was not linked to this weekend but rather due to a series of comments made throughout this season.

“It had nothing to do this weekend,” Verstappen explained, as quoted by Motorsport.com.

“But this year it’s been a constant… yeah, kind of like daily being disrespectful, especially one particular person. And it’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 are constantly being like that live on TV, you make it only worse instead of trying to make it better.

“You keep disrespecting me, and at one point, I’m not tolerating it anymore. That’s why I decided to stop answering them.”

Sky regularly broadcasts post-race interviews with drivers after a grand prix, but it was forced to show Verstappen’s interview with F1 due to his boycott.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner said the team chose to “take a break” this weekend after being “disappointed with a series of derogatory comments that have been made on Sky”.

“There needs to be balance in commentary,” he said. “Some of the commentary is excellent, but some of the pieces, there’s too much sensationalisation being done. We stand together as a team.”

While Horner expanded on the “discontent” of the comments that he felt lacked impartiality, he insisted normal service “will be resumed” at the next race in Brazil.

“I think an accusation of championships being robbed is something that we don’t feel is an impartial commentary,” said Horner. “That is, we don’t feel, in any way fair or balanced.

“Max was very upset about it, and as a team, we support him fully. We were equally upset about it. As a team, we took the decision this weekend, I took the decision that we’ll have a weekend off.”