Sky F1 Expert Called Out For 'Disrespectful' Comment About Helmut Marko

Sky F1 pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz has been questioned by some fans over his remarks on Helmut Marko's Red Bull exit - though others have backed him.

It was announced on Tuesday that Marko would be departing the team after 21 years following the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Austrian, 82, has acted as a motorsport advisor to Red Bull Racing through his employment with the energy drink giant's parent company, Red Bull GmBH.

He has played a key role in the development and careers of a number of junior drivers, including multiple-time F1 world champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

Marko has a particularly close relationship with the Verstappen family, with Verstappen himself claiming last year that he could quit the team had Marko been suspended after allegations that he had leaked information to the media.

The Austrian was not punished and Verstappen stayed put, but Autosport's Ronald Vording claimed there had been growing tensions between Marko and Red Bull in the build-up to his eventual exit.

It was reported that Marko had signed off on a contract to bring former McLaren junior driver to the Red Bull programme - against the wishes of the team's senior management, who paid compensation to terminate the deal.

Marko attracted significant criticism in claiming that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli 'waved past' Lando Norris in the closing laps of the Qatar Grand Prix, with the Italian instead having ran wide.

It was reported that Red Bull management were not impressed with those comments, and the team issued an official apology.

In 2023, he suggested that Sergio Perez's loss of form was because 'he is South American and he is just not as completely focused in his head as Max [Verstappen] or Sebastian'. Marko later apologised for the remark.

Speaking about Marko's departure on an episode of 'The F1 Show', Kravitz - who has had his run-ins with Red Bull in the past - said: "There's something deep inside me that is sorry to see the old guy go.

"Something very small, and I will take it up, put it in a small bag and throw it in a bin when we finish this podcast. Because I think his time has finished."

Kravitz's comments prompted laughter from presenter Simon Lazenby and fellow pundit Karun Chandhok.

But fans had mixed feelings.

One wrote: "How disrespectful can somebody be?"

Another agreed: "I'm not too sad about Marko leaving but I do agree it's a little disrespectful."

While a third added: "Bizarre thing to say."

But others backed the Sky F1 reporter, with one writing: "Ted is a national treasure."

A second claimed: "Love this. Marko was not a likeable individual but I don't think he really cared."

A third added: "And I thought I couldn't love Ted any more."

While a fourth wrote: "Marko deserves every little bit of it."