Formula 1 is evolving on all fronts. Be it racing or non-racing related, drivers like Lewis Hamilton are making active efforts to demolish the social evils that plague the sport. But there are some problems that are deeply inbuilt for some stakeholders that they make their way out into the public in a very ugly way. This is what has happened very recently with Helmut Marko mentioning allegedly xenophobic comments on Sergio Perez.

“Let’s remember that he is South American and so his head is not as focused as Max Verstappen or as Sebastian Vettel was,” Marko told ServusTV after a turbulent Italian GP for the Guadalajara-born Perez. Such statements in today’s time created a stir all around. The Austrian Red Bull Team Advisor was attacked on social media for this. Responding to the uproar created by his comments, he has issued a 5-word answer.

“It wasn’t meant that way,” said Marko when asked by OE24, as he gave his explanation. “I meant that a Mexican has a different mentality than a German or a Dutchman. But who knows, maybe it’s [the mentality] controlled.” With this apologetic clarification, he seemingly has made some amends for all the controversy over the past few days.

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These statements might not entirely sit right with Perez as they aren’t one of the most constructive ones. On the other hand, a former F1 engineer has constructively put forward how Checo can improve.

Former F1 engineer highlights the main weakness of Sergio Perez relative to Max Verstappen

At the Italian GP, Sergio Perez had the task of going from P5 to the podium places. This doesn’t seem as big of a challenge because he has climbed the grid from worse positions in the past, including a P20 to P1. Though he secured P2 eventually, it took him 46 laps, out of 51, to get there. Former F1 engineer, Ernest Knoors has pointed out what he was lacking.

“He very often tries the same trick when he wants to overtake at the end of the straight, you saw him actually choose the same line every time here, and then [he] just hopes it works,” Knoors said, as quoted by GPfans. “I then still think [he lacks] a bit the killer mentality of Verstappen, who is much more decisive, in how he does things.”

In the Drivers’ championship, Perez, irrespective of his inconsistency, looks good to hold his position in P2. Only time will tell if he can improve in 2024 and comprehensively challenge Verstappen.

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