As the Mexican Grand Prix got concluded, winner Max Verstappen, P2 Lewis Hamilton, and P3 Sergio Perez were approached by David Coulthard for the post-race interview. As soon as Verstappen was done with his interview, boos surrounded the entire circuit. Many thought that was meant for Lewis Hamilton, but it was not!

Yes, you read it right. The boos were not meant for the seven-time world champion. But it was for Sergio Perez’s father. According to a report by GP Fans, the crowd booed Antonio Perez Garibay, or “soldier” for the President for his involvement in politics in the country.

Sergio Perez, the urged the crowd not to boo the Mercedes man, probably saw his father getting booed as the crowd isn’t fond of Mr. Perez Garibay. At least that is what the fans from Mexico stated on social media when talks picked up about Hamilton getting booed at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

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Mexico City is Perez’s home race. Moreover, Perez is also a Red Bull driver, so the instincts were natural that all the boos were headed to their arch-rival Mercedes and their star driver Hamilton. Following past examples in the United Kingdom, Austria, and the Netherlands, where Verstappen and Hamilton had to hear the discouraging sound.

Why was Sergio Perez’s father booed at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez?

Antonio Perez Garibay looks like a jolly man who is always proud of his son and his country, Mexico. Perez Sr. who never misses an opportunity to wave the Mexican flag, is also a well-known politician in the country. Moreover, most non-Mexicans aren’t aware that he is linked to the ruling NGM party of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

So much so that on one occasion, Perez Garibay stated in his native language, “If the president wants me to resign, I will do it for him.” With this, the father of the Red Bull driver established a very close connection with the President himself!

However, the main reason for the majority of dislike for Perez Sr. is due to unfulfilled promises his party made. Ruling Mexico since 2018, the NGM party is believed to have failed to curb corruption and tackle drug cartels. Moreover, the country largely dislikes the leadership of the country. Hence, as a result, Garibay is also disliked to some extent.

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Interestingly, few Mexicans also believe that Papa Perez is using his son’s popularity to grab fame for himself. As expected to run for the Presidential election in 2024 in Mexico, Antonio Perez Garibay is rumored to grab attention by using his son’s global reach.