Red Bull have had a lot of driver problems since Daniel Ricciardo left the outfit in 2018. Adding Sergio Perez to the fold brought them stability alongside Max Verstappen. However, like most others before him, Sergio Perez has wilted under pressure this season. Christian Horner and Helmut Marko have been disappointed with the Mexican this season, Helmut especially. Recently, he made some racist comments on his performance.
A Tough Pill to Swallow
Sergio Perez has had an underwhelming 2023 so far. In 2021 and 2022, Sergio Perez and his consistency helped Red Bull. In 2023, however, Red Bull are miles ahead of everyone else. Max Verstappen alone is winning the constructors’ championship for them. In such a dominant season, Sergio has been lacking.
Sergio Perez thought he could fight for the championship in 2023. That hope only lasted 4 races as Max Verstappen crushed him in Miami. The effect was noticeable immediately as he crashed during Q1 in Monaco. He then had a horrible run of form, only coming to an end in Hungary. Christian Horner openly advised him to stop thinking about the championship and just focus on himself. Helmut Marko had already sacked Nyck de Vries from Alpha Tauri, and his frustration for the Mexican was clear.
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“He is just not focused”
However, in a recent interview, Helmut Marko crossed a line. He said Sergio Perez was just not as focused as Max Verstappen or Sebastian Vettel because he is South American. He said this while comparing Perez to Red Bull legends Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, who are both Europeans.
Helmut Marko’s words haven’t gone down well with the Formula 1 community. While Red Bull will definitely not sack him, Christian Horner will have a lot of defending to do at the upcoming Singapore GP.
Helmut Marko’s Apology
After a lot of public scrutiny, Helmut Marko has issued a public apology to Sergio Perez. He has stated that one cannot generalize any country, race, or ethnicity. He mentioned he just wanted to convey that Sergio’s form has fluctuated this year. But he was wrong to attribute it to his ethnicity.
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There have been multiple reports of an early exit from Red Bull. Sergio Perez has admitted he will most likely have to look elsewhere in 2025. Amid all this, such words from a senior Red Bull figure do not give a good look to the team.
