A master of the Formula 1 pitlane, Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz stepped onto the track and came face-to-face with a footballing icon.
The pitlane reporter was stepping in for Martin Brundle at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, taking up the baton from a man famous for his pre-race grid walks.
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Former McLaren and Williams driver Brundle is famous for his pre-race exchanges with celebrities on the F1 grid, and Kravitz had his own moment of iconic awkwardness.
Having struggled to get much out of Italian MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi on the track, Kravitz then darted off when he spotted another sporting icon.
It was two-time World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo Nazario, who many still consider the greatest centre forward to ever play football.
“Bom dia Ronaldo, have you been following Gabriel Bortoleto?” Kravitz said, referring to his fellow Brazilian and Kick Sauber driver who qualified 14th for the race.
Ronaldo replied: “Yes I was just passing his car, I hope he can continue to improve.”
Kravitz then remembered he was talking to an F1 regular, with Ronaldo often attending Italian races during his time with AC Milan and Inter.
“I know you’ve been to so many races, I remember seeing you at some 20 years ago,” Kravitz said.
But then Ronaldo replied: “Many times, yes I remember you!” to much shock.
“Remember me?!” the reporter said before Ronaldo confirmed: “Many times, of course!”
Kravitz then finished: “I remember you my friend! Good luck to Brazil today and in the World Cup as well.”
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He then told the viewers: “He’s just being nice, he doesn’t know who I am! He hasn’t got a clue, not a scooby.”
Kravitz was genuinely shocked, but his humbleness may have gotten the better of him.
The reporter has been as solid an F1 fixture as colleague Brundle, starting out in F1 as a producer in 1997 before becoming a pitlane in 2002 with ITV.
He also received huge support from fans in 2019 when it looked like Sky may have let him go.
The paid broadcaster took over sole live TV rights for F1 in the UK (with the British Grand Prix the exception) and after a major revamp, Kravitz wasn’t included in their line-up.
A petition on Change.org titled ‘Keep Ted Kravitz in F1’ reached almost 5,000 signatures and fans expressed their concern on social media.
Kravitz later did return, but without his post-race ‘Ted’s Notebook’ round-up which again also made a comeback due to fan complaints.
