Helmut Marko, a racing adviser for Red Bull, has issued an apology for suggesting that Sergio Perez’s ethnicity was to blame for his poor performance this season.
The important person, who is 80 years old and chooses the drivers for both of the drink company’s teams, is a significant figure in the industry.
Marko issued the following statement in which he apologized for his insulting remark: “I would want to sorry for my disrespectful remark.
“I want to make it perfectly clear that I do not believe that we are able to generalize about the people of any country, any race, or any ethnicity,” she said. “It’s just not possible.”
The Austrian continued by saying, “I was trying to make a point that Checo’s form has fluctuated this year, but it was wrong to attribute this to his cultural heritage.” The remark was published by the Austrian on the Servus TV website that is owned by Red Bull.
Marko made his initial remarks on a Servus TV program that aired after the Italian Grand Prix that took place over the weekend.
Marko said the following in reference to Perez’s up-and-down season: “We know that he has problems in qualifying, he has fluctuations in form, he is South American, and he is just not as completely focused in his head as Max [Verstappen] is or as Sebastian [Vettel].”
Even though Perez is originally from Mexico, which is located geographically in North America, Marko has referred to him as South American in the past, and this is not the first time he has done so.
Earlier on Friday, Marko made an effort to clarify the statement; however, this only served to dig himself a deeper hole.
According to a story on the website www.oe24.at in Austria, he was quoted as adding that “it wasn’t meant that way.” I meant to imply that a German or a Dutchman had a mentality that is distinct from that of a Mexican. But who can say for sure, it could be regulated.”
Following the first four races of the season, in which both Perez and Verstappen took home two victories each, Perez began to discuss his potential for making a run at the world championship.
But Perez’s expectations were dashed when he went on a run in which he failed to qualify in the top 10 for five races in a row, despite the fact that the Red Bull he was driving was the fastest vehicle in the field.
Since the fifth race of the season in Miami, Verstappen has won every grand prix, and his current winning streak of ten races in a row is the longest in Formula One history.
Marko is a former racing driver who was a close friend of the late Dietrich Mateschitz, who was the co-owner of Red Bull and passed away in October of last year.
South America is responsible for producing four individuals who have won the world championship more than once. These individuals are Juan Manuel Fangio, who won the title five times, Emerson Fittipaldi, who won twice, and Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna, who both won three times.
