Loaded race weekend
Formula 1 will be in Mexico next weekend and Sergio Pérez’s fans have undoubtedly been looking forward to it. What makes some less enthusiastic is Max Verstappen. The Dutchman now even has two bodyguards.
Last year it was a great Red Bull party in Mexico, but this year you can speak of ‘the lion’s den’ for Max Verstappen. From the Mexican side, the initial enthusiasm for ‘their’ Sergio Pérez’s teammate has waned considerably. In fact, Verstappen has been criticized on social media for a long time and was booed by Pérez fans on the podium in Austin last weekend. During the Wilhelmus, ‘Checo, Checo, Checo’ was also shouted, Pérez’s nickname. There are Mexican fans who believe that Verstappen is favored within Red Bull and that he is the reason that Pérez is having such a mediocre season. Last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix, in which Verstappen did not give his place back to Pérez at the end, is also a sensitive issue.
In short, you can imagine that Verstappen will not only receive a warm welcome in Mexico City next weekend. Apparently there are enough concerns at Red Bull to take action and so the 26-year-old driver will have two bodyguards at his side next weekend. That explains Red Bull’s Dr. Helmut Marko F1-Insider.com. “Max actually doesn’t want that and isn’t concerned, but we are responsible for him. So we just want to stay on the safe side,” said Marko. In Mexico, fans are also being called on from various quarters to behave respectfully.
Today the drivers are already in Mexico and it is time to speak to the media. Tomorrow the race weekend really starts. You can read everything about the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix here.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl