© Jiri Krenek for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Toto Wolff says the problem with Dr Helmut Marko’s remarks on Sergio Perez is “not only what has been said, but it’s the mindset that you can even come up with these things”.
After the Italian Grand Prix, Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko made some controversial comments regarding Sergio Perez’s form.
“We know that he has problems in qualifying, he has fluctuations in form,” the Austrian said.
“He is South American and he is just not as completely focused in his head as Max [Verstappen] is or as Sebastian [Vettel],” he concluded.
Unsurprisingly, this caused quite a stir, as Marko used Perez’s ethnicity to explain why he’s not performing as well as he should. He even received a formal warning from the FIA.
Marko was also made fun of for saying Mexico is in South America, when in fact the country is situated in North America.
After Haas team principal Guenther Steiner mentioned this fact at the Singapore Grand Prix Friday press conference, Toto Wolff turned to more serious matters.
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“We’re laughing about the South America [comment], but it’s a topic that’s not at all funny,” Wolff said.
“It’s not only what has been said, but it’s the mindset that you can even come up with these things and that hasn’t got any place in Formula 1.
“That’s not something that should have been said in the past and certainly not now [or] in the future.
“We all know that we need more diversity in Formula 1, more inclusion and the teams do their best to create an environment where this is possible.
“And obviously statements like this don’t shine the light on Formula 1 that Formula 1 deserves for all of their activities,” the Austrian concluded.
