FORMULA ONE reporter Ted Kravitz was forced to apologise after Christian Horner made a rude gesture on live TV.
The Red Bull chief was seen on Sky cameras during the broadcaster’s coverage of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Kravitz was involved in a light-hearted exchange with Horner while in the pit lane.
The reporter joked about how Horner’s 50th birthday party on Thusday had gone on into the early hours.
He also poked fun at Horner’s use of some glasses earlier in the day.
Kravitz said: “I think he’s wearing his natty new glasses on the pit wall and who can blame him?
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“Who, approaching 50 years old, would wear their glasses in the pit lane, wanting to pretend that they actually don’t need them? Who would do that?”
As the cameras panned to Horner, Kravitz said: “Christian, where are the glasses? Put the glasses back on.”
In response, Horner could be seen making a poorly disguised middle finger gesture towards the camera.
After turning to face the camera, Horner moved his hand from his side up to his face with two fingers – his index and middle – being held up before dropping one to leave his middle finger.
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Kravitz then said: “Oh, he’s giving me a happy little greeting there. Honestly, every time I keep putting a compliment Christian’s way, he doesn’t like it.
“He’s 50 and I’m approaching 50 and we both need the glasses now. And the glasses are on.”
Commentator David Croft then added: “He did put the glasses on eventually, thank you Christian. And apologies if you were offended by the hand signals that were going on from the Red Bull pit wall.”
Horner’s wife Geri posted a loved-up post to celebrate the occasion.
The first practice session of the weekend was left in chaos after Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz hit a manhole cover, forcing the session to be abandoned after just ten minutes of action.
Sainz, who smashed his Netflix Cup trophy earlier this week, was also handed a ten-place grid penalty following changes Ferrari were forced to make on his car.
The Spaniard said he was in “disbelief” at being given the penalty.
He commented: “The team communicated to me that I was taking a 10-place grid penalty for something that I have no fault, and the team have no fault.
“That changed completely my mindset and my opinion on the weekend and how it’s going to go from now on. I’m disappointed and in disbelief with the situation.
“You will not see me very happy this weekend.”
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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
