Regarding Ted Kravitz’s Red Bull F1 exit theory, Max Verstappen speaks out.

Speaking after Max Verstappen won the United States Grand Prix, Sky Sports F1 pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz speculated over the future of one of his close Red Bull allies

The speculation that one of Max Verstappen’s close Red Bull allies might be departing the team was dispelled by Ted Kravitz of Sky F1.

After winning the United States Grand Prix Sprint race, Verstappen had said something on the radio that had left Kravitz perplexed. The Sky Sports reporter was curious as to whether the Dutchman’s message to engineer Michael Manning was a public farewell.

So he went looking for the Irishman, who seemed to respond in a mysterious way. “I said to Red Bull’s Irish engineer Michael Manning, who was just outside the office, ‘Alright, Michael?'” Kravitz related the story on his Ted’s Notebook show.

“I know he’s been at Red Bull an awful long time. ‘What’s happening, are you off?’ And he said, ‘No comment, that’s confidential’. And if Michael Manning is off and he’s just not telling us then, well, goodbye Michael Manning. Thank you and goodbye.”

Manning’s answer clearly piqued Kravitz’s interest, but it seems the Red Bull engineer was simply teasing the Sky reporter. Asked about his colleague’s potential departure, Verstappen shut down the talk.

“Yeah, it’s my start guy,” said the Dutchman, who said it was a message to Manning after getting a good start off the line. “I mean, the poor guy has had a few tough races, so I was just joking, like that it wasn’t too bad this time.”

Verstappen may have won in Austin but he wasn’t a popular man among everyone at the Circuit of the Americas. Some fans could be heard booing the Dutchman as he took to the podium and it soon became clear that it was a section of die-hard Sergio Perez fans who were behind the rancour.

Some people, obviously offended by Verstappen’s dominance in that specific driver partnership this year, chanted Perez’s name during the playing of the Dutch national anthem to commemorate the champion’s victory. The team has made the decision to take no chances because this weekend’s F1 races are being held in Mexico.

After the Austin race, team manager Christian Horner made a lighthearted remark, saying, “Max isn’t going to receive the best reception in Mexico! But that’s as far as I’m concerned. You play the villain one year and the hero the next.” To protect their star driver in Mexico City, the team has hired bodyguards despite his dismissal.

However, it appears that Verstappen didn’t want that to happen. Max is calm and doesn’t genuinely want that. However, we are accountable to him. Thus, we simply want to be cautious,” Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko remarked.