Ted Kravitz admits one F1 driver really didn’t want to talk to him during Monza media day

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The Formula 1 circus has reached its final destination on its central European tour with the paddock arriving at a boiling hot Monza for the 16^th Grand Prix of the season.

Fresh from the blustery, changeable conditions of Zandvoort, the Italian Grand Prix should provide teams with much more consistent conditions to set their car up in over the next few days.

All eyes are on the ensuing championship battle between Red Bull and McLaren.

Lando Norris’s faint chances of winning the Drivers’ Championship although it would require a 71-point swing over the final third of the season.

Ted Kravitz was in the paddock chatting to the drivers ahead of the race and relayed his findings on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast.

The format for the pre-race media day has now changed and that allowed Kravitz to speak to Aston Martin drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Aston Martin F1 Team from team principal to lineage

It’s been a far from ideal season for the British team who appear to have the quickest outside of the top four manufacturers, but the gap to the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes is significant.

Alonso only managed to secure the final point at Zandvoort while Stroll fell out of the top ten despite reaching Q3.

Kravitz admitted that he could barely get a word out of Stroll during their conversation, although the Canadian isn’t always the most willing to divulge information to the press even at the best of times.

Ted Kravitz could barely get a word out of Lance Stroll during his Monza media duties

During the new pre-race media day format, Kravitz spoke to both Aston Martin drivers and they said: “Fernando Alonso [was] quite firm.

“Lance Stroll was even for Lance Stroll in an uncommunicative, not wanting to talk mood.

“I barely got six words out of him even with the two questions that I had because he wasn’t in huge demand in the new interview Thursday pen.

“So, I don’t know whether Lance has had a bad preparation or a bad week coming in or is just annoyed or whatever, but he really wasn’t in the mood.

“And Fernando, I put it to him that with the point he scored at Zandvoort, he is now on 50 points which is 72 behind the last driver in the top four teams and double his teammate.

READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso’s life outside F1 from net worth to Cars 2

“So, Fernando Alonso is currently leading that Formula 1.5, the best of the rest, does that say something about the current regulations that they weren’t able to close up?

“Fernando said no, in fact, the regulations are doing their job because we’ve got those four teams fighting for wins and the world championship.

“So, it’s not the regulations that are the problem, it’s our team that haven’t managed to close up.”

Fernando Alonso’s strange dig at Lance Stroll during the Dutch Grand Prix

There’s been a suggestion that the only people who are nice about Stroll are Alonso and team principal Mike Krack.

The 25-year-old is immensely experienced in F1 considering his age but only has three podium finishes to his name and a single pole position he secured in 2020.

Alonso appeared to have a strange dig at Stroll at Zandvoort although they do seem to have a good relationship.

READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Stroll and Alonso will be teammates until at least the end of the 2026 season when they’ll both hope that the new regulations set them up for success.

Tim Coronel has told Stroll he needs to have more fun to reach his full potential although judging by his latest exchange with Kravitz, he hasn’t arrived at Monza in the best mood.