Sky Sports F1 reporter Ted Kravitz swears in live TV gaffe… in same week FIA president tried to crack down on swearing
TED KRAVITZ made an unfortunate gaffe as he was heard swearing live on TV… just days after the FIA president ordered drivers to cut back on profanities.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem caught the ire of Formula One drivers after complaining about the amount of swearing heard on live broadcasts during races.
He had said: “We have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music. We’re not rappers, you know.
“They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That’s them and we are [us].”
Lewis Hamilton claimed there was a “racial element” to the comments, while Max Verstappen blasted, “are we five”, in his own fiery response.
However, Sky Sports F1 reporter Kravitz is the next star to be caught out by the new no-swearing rule, after he uncharacteristically stumbled over his words at the Singapore Grand Prix.
While appearing live on TV before Free Practice One, Kravitz was doing a report on the upgrades Ferrari had brought to the race.
But the fan favourite struggled to get his words out while talking about the Scuderia’s new front wing.
He stopped mid-sentence but could then be heard mumbling: “F***ing hell, sorry. Let’s do that again.”
Kravitz later issued an apology in light of his earlier X-rated slip of the tongue.
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He said: “Apologies from my side… I seek perfection but sometimes I don’t get it.
“And if I mess up a first take and then I’m frustrated by myself sometimes there’s a naughty word that comes out.
“Obviously that was never meant to be played, that’s our mistake, we’re owning that.
“I apologise that take that was not supposed to play, got played out. This happens in television sometimes, so apologies for that, we seek to do better next time.”
While the veteran F1 reporter may have not been too impressed by the slip-up, fans saw the funny side.
Taking to social media, one fan said: “I just started watching and laughed so hard when I heard him say it.”
A second said: “The FIA banning swearing from drivers and then Ted Kravitz having the wrong take aired on Sky of him just swearing is so f***ing funny.”
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F1 2025 grid
Here are the confirmed driver line ups for the F1 2025 season so far:
Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli
McLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll
Williams: Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz
Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg and TBC
Alpine: Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan
RB: Yuki Tsunoda and TBC
Haas: Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon
Another said: “Can’t believe they played one of @tedkravitz outtakes on the Ferrari front wing.”
A fourth added: “A Ted Whoops… love it! So natural!”
A fifth said: “Come on then @Ben_Sulayem & the @fia, you gonna summon @tedkravitz as well? What a world we live in when adults get told off for swearing.”
Another said: “That bit with Ted Kravitz in the build-up to FP1 on Sky just proves we’re all human and that even the best reporters make mistakes.
“All forgiven Ted, one of the best and most legendary reporters in F1 history.”
Kravitz, 50, has worked on Sky Sports coverage of F1 since 2012.
He previously worked for BBC and ITV when they broadcast the motorsport.
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