Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has repeatedly slammed Sergio Perez for his driving after the Mexican failed to live up to the expectations set by the team. While Marko’s unfiltered remarks about the 33-year-old’s driving come as no surprise, it is the recent ‘South American‘ jibe that caught the eye of everyone. However, even though Marko’s remarks were highly controversial, veteran F1 writer Tom Rubython is surprised no one supported the 80-year-old.
Rubython believes that Marko clearly misspoke and did not mean to be insensitive. While Rubython wants people to support Marko, most of the others, clearly, do not share the same opinion.
Seven-time Drivers’ Champion Lewis Hamilton has slammed the Red Bull advisor for his remarks. The 38-year-old told Sky Sports (as quoted by ESPN), “It’s completely unacceptable what he (Marko) said“. Hamilton believes that apologies for such remarks are not enough and that stricter action must be taken against such individuals.
The Briton made his remarks soon after Marko apologized for his comments. The Austrian stated that his remarks were misunderstood and that he did not mean to be insensitive. With Marko having apologized, Rubython wants more people to support him.
Tom Rubython wants more support for Helmut Marko
Business F1 writer Tom Rubython shockingly wrote a lengthy article about why it disappointed him to know that the FIA warned Helmut Marko after his supposed offensive remarks. Rubython believes that the FIA does not respect the 80-year-old for his talents.
“He is personally responsible for bringing the seven-time world champions, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen into the sport. He has been a vital part of the rise of Red Bull Racing and its six Constructors’ World Championships. He’s also a very brave man and survived a terrible accident that cost him his career,” explained Rubython.
After heaping praise on the Austrian, Rubython went on to state, “But none of this, counts for anything with the FIA. Only tiny misspeak and he is expendable, confined to hell, or so it seems. This is not the way for a governing body to behave and I deplore it“.
Rubython then added that he believes that Marko just made two mistakes. First, he stereotyped and second, he has an “uncertain grasp of geography“. The veteran F1 writer believes that with Sergio Perez also accepting Marko’s apology, he is surprised that no team principal supported the 80-year-old.
Perez keen to move on after Marko apologized to him
Soon after Helmut Marko made offensive remarks about his ethnicity, Sergio Perez revealed that he had a private conversation with the Red Bull advisor, who apologized to him. The 33-year-old believes that since the Austrian apologized, he is now ready to move on.
As quoted by ESPN, Perez said, “I have a personal relationship with him (Marko), and I think you always have that. You can always have those feelings when you see that sort of stuff. Knowing the person helps a lot because I know he doesn’t mean it that way“. Perez then concluded his remarks by stating that Marko’s remarks did not offend him “at all“.
While Marko’s remarks did not offend Perez, the FIA issued the Red Bull advisor a warning, much to the surprise of some. Tom Rubython is not the only individual who was surprised with Marko receiving the warning. ESPN commentator Fernando Tornello also believes that too much was made of the controversy between the two.
As quoted by planetf1.com, Tornello told Esto, “You’re making too much trouble over what he says. He’s simply a provocateur. What he really wants to do is to motivate the drivers, but he is very tough”. Tornello believes that Marko simply made such remarks to push Perez to “get more out of the car” and improve his performances.
