Verstappen will have two bodyguards in Mexico for his own safety
Max Verstappen will have two bodyguards with him for the Mexican Grand Prix. Helmut Marko revealed this to F1-insider.com.
Loud boos could be heard as Verstappen took to the podium after the United States Grand Prix. Some of it was for the governor appearing on the podium, but the chanting of 'Checo, Checo' also clearly showed that fans of Verstappen's teammate were not happy with Max's victory.
Why Verstappen needs bodyguards
Heading into the Mexico GP, there are concerns about the triple world champion's safety. It has therefore been decided that Verstappen will have two bodyguards with him, Marko revealed ahead of the race weekend. "Max doesn't actually want it himself and is very relaxed, but we have a responsibility for him. We just want to be safe."
Verstappen himself still addressed the press after the US GP with a big smile. Indeed, the Dutchman does not care about people booing: "In the end, I'm the one who goes home with the trophy, fine by me," Verstappen revealed. Sergio Perez, on the other hand, was not on the podium.
Red Bull Racing are not alone in fighting fan misbehaviour. The organisers of the Mexico GP also already gave a clear message to fans that respect must be shown for Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen. Whether the same will happen when Verstappen wins for the fifth time in Mexico remains to be seen.
I don't buy into this notion that Max doesn't care about the booing. Of course he does. In fact, in one interview he gave a while back, he did admit to that. It might have been in one of those sit-down interviews with Brundle, not sure. It's very telling that RB think they need this for Max. I'd imagine Marko needs the security here, not Max. Marko's the one with the big mouth. Max is only loud on the radio. And on flip side, all the other drivers will walk in without the need for any of this, I expect. But this is how RB have built themselves up. The management aren't nice people, imo. I'm no fan of Max as a person either (nor do I like his driving behaviour at times, to say the least), but compared to the management, he's not said anything untoward. Lewis didn't have to do this at any event during his domination years, as far as I'm aware. But this "as long I get the winners trophy, I don't care" stuff... nah, not buying that at all. This is not a good image for Red Bull, it's sponsors and especially the all important shareholders might not like this. They should clean up their attitudes and image a bit. And that goes for management and driver(s) alike. Even going back to Baku, with the radio messages we heard after the race. It showed which basked Red Bull want to put all of their eggs. If the Mexicans want to boo, let them boo. As long as that's as far as it goes. We might see more of that again in Vegas, but anything more than that is just wrong. No driver should have to tolerate this stuff. So yes, I hope everything will be ok this weekend. Red Bull need to lay low and just do their thing.
Well max will have the best body gaurds round him problay be ex special forces body gaurds,
Is this one of this 'my Dad is bigger than your Dad' arguments? Oh don't worry, I'm sure nothing will happen to any RB member in Mexico. We can't have anything like that going on, it would be horrible, don't you think? Yeah I hope they're all going to be just fine.
Apparently Lewis has/had plenty of bodyguards, even in the paddock (which is a bit unique)... The man is worth 100's of millions and there's a lot of people with an opinion about him. I work in entertainment. Famous artists have personal security for the exact same reasons. They usually don't need them.. until suddenly they do. And nobody thinks it's weird or overly dramatic. It's just Marko mentioning it and the media blowing it up. And perhaps Max does care about the booing, but it's not going to change his attitude or negatively impact his performance.
Lewis hasn't had to change his security detail from race to race. Red Bull's own toxicity is the need for them needing theirs. I don't give a hoot about Max's attitude or performance. But I will criticise it when I feel it necessary and I will criticise his performances when he falls short in the unbeatable car.
I think that Marko has exaggerated again..... Anyway this measure put Perez again in a bad light..
Perez isn't to blame for this, really. Marko's words and even Perez' dad who has been stirring things up with his claims have been the worst culprits here. It's not fair for Max to have to pay for the words Marko (or Perez' dad) has said. If they're booing Max for something about him, then that's a different thing. If it's because he's part of Red Bull, and it's Red Bull as a whole they don't like, again different thing - and even less acceptable. For me, it's a double sided coin with Max. Primarily, I don't think any driver who has done no wrong deserves to be boo'd. Compared to say 2021, Max has not done much out of line this season. Luckily, he's not had the need to tangle with other drivers for the vast majority of the year. But I'm no Red Bull fan, but even though it IS wrong and it shouldn't happen, if anyone from RB is boo'd, I'm not bothered by it. For me, there is no love lost with Red Bull after 2021. They lost all my respect and sympathies then (not that I've liked Horner ever since 2010). It's not a good look for Perez if it's his fellow countrymen that are doing this, so from that perspective, you are correct. But then again, Perez isn't responsible (nor should he be made so) for the behaviour of the crowd.
What is the world coming to? Now you have to be fearful if you have sheer talent and performance and do a good job? Incredible ?
Good call, you never know. Plenty of nutcases out there. Not sure you should be telling the world the extend of his security detail though... You might want to add a couple more now.
It would be good if Max skips this race and helps Checo get maybe third place, behind Lewis and Lando.
Are you suggesting the only possibility of Lewis winning is without Max partaking? Thats ok, a win is a win.
It was more of a suggestion that Checo couldn't win on his home track even without Max, and I believe Lewis would probably take that chance.
"Whether the same will happen WHEN Verstappen wins for the fifth time in Mexico remains to be seen." ? The inevitability of Verstappen is getting stronger by the weekend lol
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