Formula One team Aston Martin have taken umbrage with broadcaster Sky Germany and have banned the outlet from covering them at races following what they perceive as excessive criticism, a new report claims.
At the Hungarian Grand Prix, the team, owned by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, declined an interview with Sky reporters Ralf Schumacher – brother of seven-time world champion Michael – and Peter Hardenacke.
The two reporters were in the paddock trying to secure interviews, which is common practice in F1, and set their sights on the Aston Martin garage. However, not a single representative of the team would speak to them.
After being refused access, Schumacher quickly quipped: ‘I know they’re not giving us any more interviews because they don’t like us that much at the moment.’
The decision not to speak to Sky Germany at the Hungaroring is sad to have stemmed from a comment made by Schumacher at the British Grand Prix, where he criticised the conduct of Lance Stroll, the son of owner Lawrence.
The former F1 driver claimed that Stroll should apologise to his engineers after an x-rated rant over the radio at Silverstone, a race in which the Canadian bagged six points through a seventh-placed finish.
Ralf Schumacher (right), brother of Michael, and Peter Hardenacke (left) were snubbed by the Aston Martin garage at the Hunagrian Grand Prix
F1 team Aston Martin boycotted Sky Germany due to previous criticism by the broadcaster
This is said to be because Schumacher critising Lance Stroll follwoing an x-rated radio rant at the British Grand Prix
‘This is the worst piece of s*** I’ve ever driven,’ Stroll angrily burst out in the cockpit.
However, the reaction to Stroll’s outburst is not believed to be the only reason for Aston Martin’s Sky boycott.
According to German outlet BILD, Aston Martin also declined the interview as they believe Sky shows little interest in the team at other media events, such as press conferences.
They are now understood to be setting an example of Sky as interest grows in the team, due to more positive results from both Stroll and Fernando Alonso in recent weeks.
Sky reporter Hardenacke even admitted that they were ‘a bit too critical’ of Aston Martin.
Nevertheless, Sky Germany are still allowed to attend official race events despite the boycott, and it is yet to be seen whether Aston Martin will boycott the broadcaster after the summer break.
It’s not the first time that a team has boycotted the broadcaster, with Christian Horner previously taking issue with their coverage in the past while at Red Bull.
Both he and Max Vertsappen refused to give Sky Sports, which includes UK, German and Italian iterations, interviews during the Mexican Grand Prix in 2022 due to what they perceived as negative press.
Lance Stroll blasted his race engineers at Silverstone saying, ‘This is the worst piece of s*** I’ve ever driven’
Former Red Bull boss Christian Horner also boycotted Sky at the 2022 Mexico Grand Prix
‘We were obviously disappointed with a series of derogatory comments that have been made on on Sky,’ Horner said at the time. ‘So we felt that this weekend we’d just take a break and that it wouldn’t do Sky any harm us taking a break this weekend.
‘There needs to be balance in commentary. Some of the commentary’s excellent but some of the pieces there’s too much sensationalism being done. And we stand together as a team.
‘We’ve been very clear it’s not just been Sky UK, it’s been across all of the Sky channels, Germany, Italy.
‘So it was just for this weekend, but it was just to register our discontent in sometimes some of the the less impartial comments that are made or accusations that are sometimes made as TV seems to becoming ever more sensationalised.’
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