September 15, (THEWILL) – Formula One’s governing body has issued a written warning to Red Bull’s Motorsport Adviser, Helmut Marko, following his comments about the team’s Mexican driver, Sergio Perez.
The 80-year-old was reprimanded for blaming Perez’s recent patchy form on his ethnicity, referring to him as a “South American”. The Austrian apologised last week but his remarks continued to provoke strong reactions in the paddock at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said Marko’s “mindset” had no place in Formula One, while Lewis Hamilton said the comments could not simply be apologised for and forgotten. In a formal statement, an FIA spokesman confirmed Marko had received a written warning for his words, which were deemed to have breached the governing body’s Code of Ethics.
Marko was reminded of his responsibilities as a public figure in motorsport. On his part, Perez, on Thursday, said that he had accepted a personal apology from Marko, although the Mexican’s comments from Guadalajara were still making headlines in Mexico and across the internet. McLaren chief Zak Brown acknowledged they were “not a great comment” and he could understand the offence caused.
Alfa Romeo’s Alessandro Alunni Bravi said everyone deserves respect and all were working hard to prove themselves in Formula One. THEWILL recalls that Perez joined Red Bull in 2022 and has won six races for the team, which he is contracted to drive for until the end of 2024.
