Helmut Marko apologises to Sergio Perez for 'offensive remark' about Red Bull star
Helmut Marko has been widely criticised for his recent comments on Sergio Perez.
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Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has apologised for making an 'offensive remark' about Sergio Perez in the aftermath of last weekend's Italian Grand Prix. The 80-year-old was heavily criticised for stereotyping Perez on the basis of his nationality while discussing the reasons behind his lack of form this season.
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Speaking to Red Bull-owned Servus TV after last weekend's race in Monza, Marko said: "[It] was surely one of Checo Perez’s best weekends, and we know about his problems in qualifying, which is where he has his doubts. Let’s remember that he is South American, and so his head is not as focused as Max Verstappen or as Sebastian Vettel was."
Many took to social media to blast Marko for his comments, which he initially defended by appearing to double down on his claims earlier this week. He told OE24: "It wasn’t meant that way. I meant that a Mexican has a different mentality than a German or a Dutchman. But who knows, maybe it’s controlled."
Marko has since issued a full apology for what he now acknowledges was an 'offensive remark' about Perez, with Servus TV posting a statement from Marko in both German and English on their website.
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The statement reads: "Concerning my remark about Sergio Perez, ServusTV Sport and Talk, Monday September 4: I would like to apologise for my offensive remark.
"I want to make it absolutely clear that I do not believe that we can generalise about the people from any country, any race, any ethnicity. I was trying to make a point that Checo has fluctuated in his performance this year, but it was wrong to attribute this to his cultural heritage."
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Marko, a former racing driver who won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1971, has been heavily involved with Red Bull's junior programme over the last two decades. He was a close friend of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who died last year on the eve of the United States Grand Prix.
Perez, meanwhile, has struggled to keep up with Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen over the course of this season. The 33-year-old is currently 145 points adrift in the Drivers' Championship standings and has only managed to win two races in 2023, with his last victory coming at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix five months ago.
