Sir Lewis Hamilton has condemned Red Bull Formula 1 advisor Helmut Marko for the remarks he made about Sergio Perez after the Italian Grand Prix which the seven-time World champion described as “completely unacceptable”
Marko, speaking after the race in Monza a fortnight ago, pinned Perez’s inconsistent form this season down on his ethnicity being Mexican.
He said: “We know that he [Perez] has problems in qualifying, he has fluctuations in form, he is South American and he is just not as completely focused in his head as Max [Verstappen] is or as Sebastian [Vettel].”
Marko has since apologised for his “offensive remark” about Perez but Hamilton says it will be difficult to battle discrimination in F1 with mindsets such as that of 80-year-old Marko.
Hamilton also stated he found it interesting that Red Bull did not condemn Marko’s remarks and has called on F1 to do more in rooting out discrimination in the sport.
“It’s completely unacceptable what he said,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1 as per Crash.net ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
“Whilst we say there’s no room for any type of discrimination within this sport, which there should be no room for it, to have leaders, and people in his position making comments like this, it’s not good for us moving forwards. I think it just highlights the work that needs to be done.
“There are people in the background working really hard to combat these things. But it’s really hard to manoeuvre when you have people at the top that have those kind of mindsets, that stop us from progressing. I’m not surprised, to be honest.
“This is not something you just apologise for and it’s all okay. I think more needs to be done.
“Teams, when they’ve had individuals make comments – they usually are removed or put out a quote and say they don’t support that kind of thing. So it is interesting that they haven’t done so for this one.
“It’s not my team and it’s not how we move as a team. It shows how important it is that we continue to do the work that I’m trying to do with my team and the sport. We still have a lot of work to make sure this is a more inclusive environment.”
In a separate development, Hamilton says he has no intention of involving himself in the legal battle former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is planning to take.
The retired Brazilian lost the 2008 championship to Hamilton, then at McLaren, by a single point but former F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone revealed early this year that he and then FIA president Max Mosley had knowledge of the chaotic Singapore Grand Prix that year that had consequences on Massa’s title hopes.
The 42-year-old’s legal team are ultimately looking towards having the 2008 championship stripped from Hamilton.
“If that’s the direction that Felipe wants to go, that’s his decision,” Hamilton said in a press conference in Singapore. “I prefer not to focus on the past.
“Whether it’s 15 years ago, two years ago, or three days ago. I’m only interested in the present and my focus is on helping my team this week.”
Straight down to work in Singapore. ???? pic.twitter.com/ADcP5x0yS7
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) September 14, 2023
Hamilton recently signed a contract with Mercedes that keeps him with the German automobile giant until 2025.
