Ted Kravitz reveals why he’s always on his ‘guard’ when he interviews Max Verstappen

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Ted Kravitz has been working in Formula 1 as a broadcaster since 1997. That means he’s interviewed some of the great drivers in the history of the sport.

Shortly after he arrived in the paddock, Michael Schumacher and Ferrari established a dynasty, winning a record five titles in a row at the start of the millennium. Kravitz sees ‘uncanny’ similarities between Schumacher and Max Verstappen, who has enjoyed a similar streak with Red Bull.

In the intervening years, he witnessed Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel break into the sport. Between them, they have won 13 titles, including all but three between 2005 and 2020.

Verstappen dethroned Hamilton and Mercedes in 2021 with one of the most controversial championship triumphs ever. Kravitz’s suggestion that the British driver was ‘robbed’ in Abu Dhabi briefly led Verstappen to boycott interviews with employer Sky Sports, but that dispute was resolved.

Ted Kravitz says Max Verstappen ‘will put you away’ just like Michael Schumacher

Speaking on Virgin Radio on Monday, Kravitz hinted that Verstappen learned from Schumacher when he was a child. His father, Jos, was teammates with Die Regenmeister at Benetton.

Verstappen received karting lessons from Schumacher but, in addition to driving tips, he has adopted a similar demeanour with the press. The Dutchman doesn’t hesitate to ‘put you away’ if asked a ‘foolish’ question.

Kravitz has already explained that Schumacher demanded excellence from reporters. He made it plain when he wasn’t impressed with the standard of questions.

“That’s the great thing about Max as well,” he said. “Max is so much like Schumacher it’s uncanny sometimes.

“Max was a kid when Jos Verstappen was Michael Schumacher’s teammate at Benetton. Max as a kid met Schumacher, but the relentlessness of Schumacher, the way he doesn’t suffer fools… sometimes, if you ask a foolish question, Max will put you away just the way Schumacher used to. I’ve got to be on my guard with that!”

The moment Ted Kravitz realised Lando Norris was special

Elsewhere in the interview, Kravitz reminisced about the rise of McLaren’s Lando Norris, the driver who will hope to supplant Verstappen as the world champion this year.

Norris used to race in categories that supported the British Touring Cars Championship, and it was there that Steve Rider noticed him. Rider, a former F1 presenter, notified Kravitz that he was special.

• READ MORE: ‘Torturous interview’… Ted Kravitz shares awkward interaction with Lando Norris before Canadian GP

That was the only time Rider ever ‘recommended’ a driver, and his instincts were strong. Norris is now a nine-time Grand Prix winner with 39 podium finishes.

“It was natural speed,” Kravitz said. “Steve’s never recommended a driver to me before in my life. He took over doing the British Touring Cars, and he said, ‘I’ve spotted one, I think we’ve got one here – Lando Norris.’

“He’d never before or since recommended a driver! It was natural zip.”