FIA take action against Helmut Marko after comments about Sergio Perez

Helmut Marko has received a written warning from the FIA and was “reminded of his responsibilities as a public figure in motorsport” after his ”offensive remark” about Sergio Perez.

The 80-year-old, who works as a special adviser for Red Bull, apologised after comments made after the Italian Grand Prix two weeks ago.

Marko referred to Perez’s background when discussing his poor form, saying: “Let’s remember that he (Perez) is South American and so he is not as focused as Max Verstappen or Sebastian Vettel was.”

While Marko apologised for the “offensive remark”, with Perez accepting the apology, Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff were among the figures to condemn Marko’s actions when speaking this weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Now, the FIA have confirmed that Marko has “received a written warning and been reminded of his responsibilities as a public figure in motorsport in line with the FIA Code of Ethics”.

Hamilton, 38, labelled Marko’s comments as “completely unacceptable” on Thursday.

“This is not something you just apologise for and it is all OK,” the seven-time world champion said. “Whilst we say there is no room for any type of discrimination in this sport – and there should be no room for it – to have leaders and people in his position making comments like this is not good for us moving forward.

“There are a lot of people in the background that really are combatting these kind of things, but it is hard to manoeuvre if people at the top have mindsets which stop us from progressing.

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“But it is not my team and not how we move as a team. We still have a lot of work to do to make this a more inclusive environment.”

Mercedes boss Wolff added: “That thing is so embarrassing for Formula 1, overall.

“It’s not even saying it, it’s to have the mindset. To come up with these things. We are trying to do so much on diversity and equality, not only because we need to it’s because it needs it.

“This is a role model environment, we are a global sport, we are going to every country and we are embracing the cultural differences. That hasn’t got any place in Formula 1. Not now and not in the future.”

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On the track, it was an unusually difficult Friday for Red Bull in Singapore. Max Verstappen’s best finish in the two practice sessions was third, with Ferrari securing a one-two in both sessions as both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz thrived on the tight twists of the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

Mercedes were within range - with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in the top five in second practice - while Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso has long earmarked this race as a potential site for a win.

The Spaniard is chasing a first victory in more than 10 years, at a track where overtaking difficulties make qualifying on Saturday of vital importance.

A 60 per cent chance of rain on Sunday could add intrigue, too, as Red Bull look to keep up their perfect 2023 record and Max Verstappen looks to extend his remarkable win streak to 11 races, at a venue he is yet to taste victory at.