Sky Sports Analyst Showers Heaps of Praise on Max Verstappen Despite Ted Kravitz Boycott Controversy: “You Cannot Take Anything Away…”

Published 10/30/2022, 11:40 AM EDT
Consistency is key to success and Max Verstappen knows that better than any driver this season. The Dutch Lion has been in an exhilarating form all year. It’s no surprise that Max has won 13 races this season, equaling Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel’s record of most race wins in a season.
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F1 returned to Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the home track for Red Bull driver Sergio Perez. However, it was his teammate Max Verstappen who stole the show on Saturday as he clinched just his 6th pole position of the season. Home favorite Sergio Perez finished P4 behind the two Silver Arrows.
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Max Verstappen seemingly denied giving interviews to Sky Sports because of Ted Kravitz’s comments on his title win last year. However, Sky Sports analyst Paul di Resta was full of praise for the Red Bull driver after his pole position in Mexico.
Di Resta said, “He’s been calculated about his lap. You cannot take anything away from Max, people say the Red Bull car is where it is, but he’s got the job done again. He’s put himself in that position after being on the back foot”.
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Despite sitting on a pole, Verstappen fans wouldn’t be eagerly excited about the news. The last 4 pole-sitters of the Mexican GP have not finished even on the podium.
Max Verstappen acknowledges Lewis Hamilton as one of the ‘best ever’ under unusual circumstances
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton fought a feisty battle for the 2021 championship. Verstappen became the first man since 2016 to beat Hamilton for the championship, albeit in a controversial manner. But the Dutchman respects and acknowledges the fact that Lewis is one of the best ever to grace the sport.
Formula One F1 – Mexico City Grand Prix – Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City, Mexico – November 7, 2021 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning the race with second placed Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton REUTERS/Edgard Garrido
Recently, Verstappen was informed that Hamilton, during interviews, refers to him using gender-neutral terms, like ‘they’ and ‘them’ instead of ‘Max’ or ‘he’. Not pleased with this revelation, Verstappen told TheMail, “I was always taught that you have to respect what people have achieved in sport. I have no problem with what Lewis has achieved. He is one of the best ever.”
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He further added, “I know it is not only the car he has been driving. That helps. We all know that, but you still have to beat your team-mate and Lewis has done that consistently. I think you have to acknowledge the person has done an amazing job as well.”
Verstappen won his second successive title in Suzuka this year. In the US, the Dutchman also surpassed Fernando Alonso’s record on race wins as he leapfrogged the Spaniard to become the 6th driver on the list with 33 wins.
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While Verstappen will be looking to win his 14th race of the season, he’ll be wary of the threat from the Mercedes pair behind him. Can the Dutchman win in Mexico?