In the midst of their strong position in the Championship Standings, Red Bull Racing finds itself facing scrutiny over team dynamics.
The controversy ignited when Sergio Perez, who joined the Austrian outfit in 2021 and played a pivotal role in aiding his teammate Max Verstappen in securing his first and second World Championship titles, came under criticism from Red Bull Chief Advisor Helmut Marko. Marko's critique centered on Perez's inability to match Verstappen's pace, notably highlighting the performance gap of the same RB-19 racecar, with Max's consistently clocking in a second faster at Zandvoort.
Helmut Marko's comments took a contentious turn when he suggested that Sergio Perez's South American heritage might be a contributing factor to his differing success compared to Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel. This remark triggered widespread protests from those advocating for greater inclusivity in Formula One, a cause passionately championed by Mercedes racer Lewis Hamilton.
When asked to comment on the Marko-Perez incident, Lewis Hamilton demanded the removal of the octogenarian from Red Bull due to his incendiary comments. Hamilton remarked, "Teams, when they've had individuals, particularly drivers, make comments – but [also] some individuals in the background – they usually are removed or at least they put out a quote and say they don't support that sort of thing. So it is interesting that they haven't done so for this one."
As the sole Black driver in Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton has had to endure his share of racist comments. However, tensions escalated when an old interview resurfaced featuring former Brazilian F1 Champion Nelson Piquet Sr. In the video, Piquet used a racial slur targeting Lewis Hamilton's ethnicity. In response, Piquet faced intense scrutiny and was ordered by the Brazilian court to pay a substantial penalty of nearly $1 million for his offensive words. In contrast, Helmut Marko received a comparatively lighter response, with a mere apology to Sergio Perez seemingly resolving the matter.
Shifting focus to upcoming events, the Singapore Grand Prix is on the horizon, with all drivers and their teams having already arrived. Nico Rosberg has characterized the race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit as one of the most demanding for drivers, setting the stage for an intriguing showdown. Lewis Hamilton expressed optimism for a strong performance from Mercedes in Singapore, citing the advantageous conditions of high-downforce tracks for their car. The question remains whether Hamilton's predictions will materialize, or if Red Bull will once again seize the advantage at Marina Bay.
Read - Helmet Marko is a born Racist and Lewis Hamilton isn't happy that he isn't removed
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