Valtteri Bottas did not have to experience the same kind of trouble at the top of the F1 series as Sergio Perez, writes Roope Visuri of Urheilu.
Roope Visuriruheluth reporter
The boss barks at you and your performance in a racist manner. He then goes on to hint at the possibility of getting you fired.
Would you put up with this kind of thing at work? Hardly. However, such has happened in the royal class of motor racing, formula one, in recent months.
Mexican Sergio Perez has received improper treatment in his capacity as an advisor to the Red Bull F1 team From Helmut Marko.
Perez’s strong early season fell drastically behind his teammate About Max Verstappen in the F1 series championship. Perez couldn’t keep up with Verstappen, especially in qualifying, and of course that also affected the results of the races.
It made Marko talk down about the Mexican driver after the race in Italy.
– We know that Perez has problems in qualifying. His mood varies. He is South American. He is not completely focused in his own head in the same way as Max or Sebastian, Marko said on Red Bull’s own Servus TV.
Marko referred to Red Bull’s champion drivers Verstappen and Vettel.
Marko was heavily criticized in F1 circles for the comment. It was considered a racist stereotype. Many also pointed out that Mexico belongs to North America rather than South America.
The international motor sports federation FIA also reacted to the comment and gave Marko a written warning. Marko had to regret the comment. There were no bigger sanctions, even if, for example, Mercedes’ star driver Lewis Hamilton in his own criticism referred to Red Bull’s previous own solutions in similar situations.
Red Bull test and backup driver Juri Vips got fired last year when he used a racist slur while playing a fighting game.
Marko made his questionable comments a month and a half ago. Before that, he had hinted at Perez’s kicks.
Marko hinted in the Austrian media that nothing is 100% certain in formulas and discussions related to performance should always be discussed. Speaking to Germany’s Sky, Marko continued that Red Bull wants to keep Perez, but he needs to perform better.
The Mexican driver has a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2024.
However, the uproar from the racist comment did not stop Marko from talking about Perez’s possible firing.
After the Qatar race a few weeks ago, Marko criticized Perez for the fact that the Mexican’s World Cup silver status is under threat. Lewis Hamilton would be really close to Perez right now if he hadn’t crashed in Qatar and his Mercedes car hadn’t been abandoned a week ago in Texas.
The 80-year-old boss stated that they would like to keep Perez’s contract, but it would only depend on the driver himself.
– “Checo” (Sergio Perez’s nickname) must now bring results, Marko said and hinted at a choice of replacement candidates at Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri.
– We have three drivers now with AlphaTaur (Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson). Among them, Lawson is the backup driver for four drivers (with Red Bull and AlphaTaur. A lot can happen, Marko pointed out.
Last week in Austin, Marko was put on the reins for good. Red Bull’s actual team manager Christian Horner assured that World Cup silver is not a condition for Perez’s continuation. Markokin was excited to praise his Mexican protégé, especially for his attitude. Instead of the usual one day, Perez had spent three days in the simulator.
With Red Bull’s dominance, Perez’s performances have been compared to the previous F1 dynasty, Mercedes. At the end of the 2010s and at the turn of the decade, Mercedes was the most dominant team in the F1 series. Valtteri Bottas at that time was clearly bending in the championship fights For Lewis Hamilton.
This season, the situation of Perez and Bottas has been compared a lot. It has been considered that Bottas performed better at Mercedes against Hamilton than against Perez. That is true when we are talking about, for example, time trial performances. Bottas consistently reached at least the final part of the qualifying sessions with Mercedes and at times beat his teammate, who is considered the best qualifying driver of all time.
Perez has not been able to do the same. However, one thing has been left out in the comparison. During his years at Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas did not have to experience the kind of abuse that Perez has received from his own boss this season. On the contrary, the Mercedes boss Toto Wolff specifically support from Bottas.
Wolff was part of Bottas’ management group before the Mercedes crash and was the most significant person outside of his inner circle, why the Finn reached the top of F1.
Wolff also promised to help Bottas find a new F1 team, when the time period at Mercedes ends. Nowadays, Bottas is driving an Alfa Romeo, enjoying his life to the fullest. Wolff has also returned to Bottas’ management team.
Perez has not had this kind of support at Red Bull, although Marko, who is responsible for Red Bull’s driver promises, has reminded that he brought the Mexican to the current number one team. At the moment, it certainly doesn’t comfort the Mexican who is preparing for his home race.
Of course, F1 is not the most traditional work environment, but yes, in the royal class of motorsport, there must be limits in the treatment of others.
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