Increasing call for Marko to resign at Red Bull after offensive comments
The Red Bull Racing offices remain fairly quiet. While advisor Helmut Marko himself has apologised for his hurtful comments about Mexicans, the team of Max Verstappen and his Mexican teammate Sergio Perez remains silent. In the run-up to the Singapore Grand Prix, the matter is lurking, and there are calls for Red Bull to sack Marko with immediate effect.
On the Sport und Talk programme on ServusTV, Marko stated that Perez was suffering from "form fluctuations" and that this might just have something to do with his "South American heritage". This prompted a storm of criticism from the Red Bull advisor. Not only would his comments be generalising, but Mexico is part of North America.
After the statements caused a stir, Marko released a statement. The Austrian revealed, "I want to apologise for my insulting remark and want to make it absolutely clear that I do not believe we can generalise people from any country, race or ethnicity. I was trying to make it clear that Checo's performance this year has been mixed, but it was wrong to attribute this to his cultural origin. I would like to formally apologise for that."
Horner will talk to the media in Singapore
Red Bull Racing has not (yet) made anything public about Marko's remarks. A complicating factor is that Marko is not officially under contract to Red Bull Racing but to Red Bull. When asked, a Red Bull Racing spokesman told GPblog that no statement will be made, but added: "Christian Horner will address the media in Singapore."
Not everyone has been able to put the story to bed after Marko's apology. Online petitions have started to get Red Bull Racing to say goodbye to Marko. According to Mexican sports newspaper Esto, one of the petitions has now been signed more than 25,000 times. Incidentally, the same source questions why the FIA doesn't intervene. According to Esto, the global motorsport federation is usually an outspoken advocate against racism and equality but does not openly disapprove of Marko's words.
Call for resignation in Germany
Mexico isn't the only place calling for a resignation. The major German newspaper Der Westen - which has its distribution area in the Ruhr - also makes its stance clear: "Get out! Red Bull has no choice - and must react immediately," is the headline of the article. Next, Der Westen refers to an incident involving Juri Vips, who was sacked by Red Bull a year ago for using the n-word. At the time, Red Bull pointed to a zero-tolerance policy in place.
"Now the race team has to prove that they mean business. This time, it is not about a minor talent from the academy but one of the leading people. Motorsport director Helmut Marko, the strong man at Red Bull behind Christian Horner, caused a scandal with a racist remark. If the team is consistent, dismissal may be the only result," the newspaper writes.
Der Westen concluded, "Zero tolerance actually leaves no wiggle room."
So he made a mistake saying Mexico is in South America when it is in North America? I do not get it it was a geography error on his part on now they are calling him to be cancelled? This world is pretty messed up, I understand Piquet as he used a racist word and it is deserved but is this not reaching?
If the statement: "South American heritage" is racist and there is so much fuss and noise about it, to me that is pure bull$hit, and completely wrong direction of where this world is going. Too many such alleged statements are discussed and publicly condemned, when in fact we all use them in everyday speech, and I'm sure, in a much worse version. ALL. But it happens privately within our four walls, and then outwardly we show differently. Total hypocrisy in my opinion. There are much worse things that are done, not just said, and completely ignored. The biggest mistake and shame in this statement is ignorance of geography.
Amazing to see all those reactions that Marko should be fired due to the comment he made. Yes, it was a very stup1d comment, but that is it. A comment. I wonder if any of those people want to be fired from their job as I bet they have made the similar comments. And to all the people that are worried about this, I think that are worse things to pay attention to. Perhaps you should line up the help the Moroccan population instead of going after Marko. Having said that, I do think that Red Bull would do wise to have Marko do volunteer work in Mexico or Brazil. Get him involved in the local culture and have him stress that he made a stup1d remark. Old or not, he is never too old to learn.
The amount of insecure, self-centred, attention seekers who demand a person to lose their job and have their life destroyed over a few words said, follower by an apology no less, is ridiculous.
Or,they can just get rid of Perez. Marko has proven he is doing his job with regards to securing talent,whilst Checo is barely doing his.
I suppose there is only one thing left to do for RBR.... ... announce in Mexico that Checo will be replaced by Ricciardo or Tsunoda for next year! Owh man...how I'd love to see that! ?
I would defend Marko just as I defended Vips at the time. Yes he made a stupid and possibly racist remark. Would I fire a building block of the currently best team in F1 over it? Absolutely not. Just as I wouldn't rip a kid's career over a slur. All these "zero tolerance" comments etc from RB are obviously bull-sh** too (see what I did there?). They could just afford to throw a kid under the bus to preserve their image as pristine as possible but not their advisor and nothing more than this apology is going to happen.
Totally agree, but even when stretching the imagination, this could only be called a generalizing/stereotypical comment, not a racist one. People shouting the hardest regarding this word (so not you), usually have a VERY broad definition of what it actually means...
Yeah it is just a vocal minority of over-sensitive people as well as those who just don't like Marko or RB and consider this an opportunity to try and hurt them.
Ugh...how I wish I was born 50 years earlier.... Society has gone completely crazy, even tho in this case its only a couple of wokies screaming in the desert...its still uphauling that we're even still talking about this... Cant wait for this race in Mexico where Max will be motivated to the bone, to humiliate Perez before the simpleton crowd!
Max should just be motivated to do his job. Motivated to "bone" and "humiliate" would be getting at the level of these people (and yours) and he is better than that.
? If you think for a second that Max won't be annoyed by this crowd with stakes coming for Marko, who he regards somewhat as a 2nd father, for something as petty as this...then I don't think you know Max all that well...
Checo has nothing to do with it though, it would be sad if a clumsy comment from Marko and the witch-hunting internet hurt the relationship between the two teammates. Perez may not be the talent of the century but has done a lot for Max and RB too.
Well, I see your point, but its a given fact that Checo running his mouth start of the year, and more specifically his dad, the Mexican media and the Mexican fanbase, have caused RB a lot of headache this last year... With their consporacy theories about Checo being the better driver, but he supposed to be getting lesser car/treatment/setup etc, pure comedy! Why do you think Max started absolutely destroying Checo since Miami and never gave up a win since?? Up until then he was kinda relaxed in their relationship, but Checo openly declaring his championship bid, the Mexican media (his dad upfront) putting Max down whenever they can, has certainly rubbed Max the wrong way!
Only the woke culture can jump on something this petty and make a huge story out of it! Marko is an old man, who was trying to explain the fiery Latino temperament, which sometimes helps, but sometimes hampers performance. The fiery Latino temperament is something latinos are proud of, and not a racist connotation as the wokeys would like to believe!
Finally someone that gets it... When we get South American footballers over here, they're often lauded for their 'grinta' and then they're so proud and its all good! When you then say that same grinta causes unnecessary red cars and its because of their temperament...guess what, you're being 'racist'! ?? Can't have it both ways!
Typical media attack to try and remove the strong backbone of that team. Lol good luck. Mercedes and checos money are getting behind this paying people to write about it Garunteed.
Lets blame everyone else except the person who caused it...well done
Why do people look to blame anyone. The empty cans rattle the most. Facts are facts.
I don’t like Marko and I’ve made it perfectly clear that I’m want him to resign and move on, however; he should NOT be forced to resign. I’m offended but not to where the man needs to lose his job!
So you have no stereotyping of other countries where you live? No "funny" remarks? No jokes on them? Nothing?
I'm sure Checo will get over it and continue his inconsistency as expected once this blows over.
People make mistakes and say things sometimes they don't mean. When it's words, then all people say stupid things time to time. This means we all should get erased according to these accusers. If it's not systematical, then people should take it as it is, a mistake and move on. Real haters nowadays are the people who try to erase people and their careers, like they did with Vips and now try with Marko.
The whole point of RBR is to help sell overpriced sugary drink to the entire planet. (You know they sold more than ELEVEN BILLION cans of RB last year?) So you can't really have some loose cannon RB employee go on TV and slag off all of Latin America, can you? There's like 700 million people down there. RB is fighting Monster for every percentage of market share (basically tied in Mexico at 35% each); there is no room at for anyone at RB to do anything stupid. It's not "pandering," it's just marketing.
Marko is an advisor to RBR. I believe he is the head of Red Bull's driver program so it is Red Bull that will need to fire him if they want to. Assuming RBR has a clause where they can terminate his contract if he causes detrimental harm to RBR, that is the only way RBR can terminate their relationship with Marko if they want to. Other than that, Marko would need to resign as advisor to RBR.
Adviser with rank over to.....remember Horner didnt want de cried but marko brought him anywhere....comments extensively about all things redbull....he may be getting paid from elsewhere...but all evidence suggests he is the senior team principal at redbull racing...even Ferrari has nothing that compares in terms of higher up interference...
I dont understand...what's de cried. Regardless of Marko's power over who and over what, the fact remains that legally he is an advisor to RBR and the firing needs to be done by the RB hierarchy and not RBR since RBR is an entity of RB.
De vries.....auto correct....so do you also believe he should not be counted for cost cap purposes ?
I went off topic somewhat but find it amazing that this guy can have so much influence and yet not be an employee. .
Now you are getting into rules and regs about cost cap which i dont know all the details but the little i know, the top 3 salaries are not counted towards a team's cost. Having said that I read somewhere that Newey is employed by RBR through his own company so him and Marko are in a grey area. Regardless of the legalities, I am not defending Marko's actions rather than which entity will or should do the firing. And if RBR cuts ties with Marko in name only meaning we wont see his face in the paddock but continues to be employed by RB, then his power over who drives where is still there.
So basically a tiny bunch of journalist plus, 25000 keyboard warrior say that Marko should be fired immediately? Well if they say so, then Marko should definitely quite! ***ironic mode off*** More seriously: "that this might". The "might" in there sounds more like Marko makes a hypothesis. If all those you make hypothesis should be cancelled, well, bad days for investigators, journalist, medical, science, justice and so on. I think it would be even safe to say; byebye world.
As a Brazilian it's just funny. Dude's getting old and talking bs. Not that he wasn't a fool for his stupid remarks, but it wasn't the first time as well. Maybe RBR need to slap his hand. He did apologise, so, let it be. Bernie talks a lot of bs too and nobody cares.
This is just an attempt to destabilise Red Bull. Everyone knows he talk to easy. He did apologise, leave the old man alone
This is all marko and redbull....self inflicted own goal..who is heading this conspiracy ?? Sure totos name will be mentioned somewhere along this thread...
@DW my guess is you are neither Mexican nor from South America. Because how else would you let this slide unless you were offended by it as was the intention.
People need to get over it, simple as that. It was not appropriate, but also not that bad. What's happening in my country is 100x worse (and is supported by the courts).
Unfortunately, the desire to appease and pander often wins over common sense so I'm afraid this may have legs Then again, I can only imagine how many extra tickets to Mexico/Brazil (and to a lesser extend, Austin) will be sold to aggrieved fans wanting to come out just to root against RBR (as if the Mexican fans needed any more reason). So maybe having HM stick around might be better for business, and in the end, that is the most important factor.
Piquet is banned from attending races for similar racist comments. So too should Marko. The FIA should ensure he is banned from attending races and Red Bull needs to consider what benefit he brings to the team. I think the benefit is marginal at best and he should be terminated asap.
There is no comparison between the too. This is just your wish for it to happen.
Frans84 I'm guessing you'd be singing a different tune had you been a South American. Sometimes all you need to do is imagine yourself in the affected persons (plural and singular) shoes in order to understand why and how the comparison made is valid.
Their interpretation will be just as subjective and is likely colored by the opinion they already have about Red Bull / Marko. Btw...can younexplain why you think my take is a whole lot of nothingness...and your opinion somehow matters? This the usual Mercedes way of thinking again?
You should have started your biased assertion with Max's name as that could have saved readers a whole bunch of nothingness you typed prior to that. Your interpretation of Marko's statement is subjective. Just ask a South American's interpretation of same statement and perhaps you'll understand.
Yes...it does! What Marko meant was that South Americans are known to be full of temperament, they are usually high in their emotions and go to the limit in sports. This is a valuable asset in many situations, but when people compliment Argentinian footbal players for their grinta, or Senna for his passion (which also crossed the line on numerous occassions), then somehow people dont think thats racism (which it obviously isnt). But when people point out that this tenperament can also has its downsides sometimes, its racism all of a sudden? Hell, if that is racism...Max has been the victim of racism by press/fans ALL the time!! Max is Dutch and we are honest and blunt and we dont beat around the bush... Max has been called out for his bluntness pretty often and that he should think before he speaks in the media... Guess what, that is a Dutch trait...
Whatever you did to the Germans and Belgians to be called cheap I don't know, but one thing I know; Imagination is FREE, so just imagine, if you can afford, someone from your workplace attacking your sole vocation, which also is your life's work, and accusing you for lacking focus and pinning that on your ethnicity. Would that make you a snowflake if that bothered you?
I'm dutch. The Germans and Belgians make fun of us for being cheap and walking in wooden cloggs. Also I'm frysian (same city as nyck de vries). And they make fun of us for being stubborn and cranky. I don't mind it as I'm not a snowflake.
@Koosdlrey, Let me guess, your so called country is not Mexico or any one of the South American countries. Sorry for whatever is happening with your country's courts but really no surprises with the kind of thinking you display on here.
Well, all I can say about the EFF song is "People need to get over it, simple as that." Now you do see how pathetic your initial comment was. Take this lesson and pass it on.
No! What's funny is how you now find this amusing, you think this is me trying to get under your skin as if I know you. Just because your initial post attracted a few likes doesn't mean you were right, it just shows there is, unfortunately, a few other people here who think and talk like you.
LOL. Funny that you think you'll get under my skin. Cheers.
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