F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Defends Sergio Perez With Sly Red Bull Snub
Lewis Hamilton has come to the defence of his fellow F1 driver Sergio Perez amid ongoing speculation about the latter's future at Red Bull. Hamilton subtly criticised Red Bull’s management, hinting at the negative impact their comments, particularly those from motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko, could have on a driver’s mental state.
Key Takeaways:
- Lewis Hamilton has publicly defended Sergio Perez, expressing concern over the lack of support from certain individuals within the Red Bull team.
- Rumours have been circulating about Perez's future with Red Bull, suggesting he might lose his seat if he doesn’t secure second place in the driver's championship, despite having a contract until the end of 2024.
- Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull's motorsport advisor, has made controversial comments about Perez, stating he might need a "change of climate and team," which contrasts with team principal Christian Horner's attempts to quell the rumours.
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Lewis Hamilton has voiced his support for Sergio Perez, highlighting a perceived lack of support from certain individuals within the Red Bull team. In a candid statement, Hamilton said:
“I don’t think his team have been massively supportive. I wouldn’t say ‘the team’, because there’s a lot of members in a team.
"But there has been one particular spokesperson that has not been really great in helping psychologically. If I heard Toto [Wolff] talking negatively about me on the weekends, it would be very tough.”
This comes amid a swirl of rumours surrounding Perez's future with Red Bull, with suggestions that he could lose his seat for the next season if he fails to secure P2 in the driver's championship, despite his contract running until the end of 2024. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has consistently dismissed these rumours in interactions with the press.
However, Dr. Helmut Marko’s comments seem to tell a different story. In a recent Q&A with Austrian outlet oe24, Marko first stated he would not speak ill of Perez ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, only to follow up with a suggestion that Perez might need to find a new team.
“Perez needs a change of climate and team. Now we’ll see how the next two races go. But the team and he are aware that he is in a crisis.”
