Lewis Hamilton: Red Bull not helping Sergio Perez،
MEXICO CITY – Lewis Hamilton believes Sergio Pérez is not getting the support he needs at Red Bull, saying he would find a similar situation at his team “very difficult to deal with.
Pérez comes to his home grand prix under pressure this weekend, with less than half of teammate Max Verstappen’s points and no podiums in the last four races.
Ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko criticized Pérez’s record this year and linked the poor performance to the Mexican driver’s ethnicity – comments for which he later apologized.
Although he did not name names, Hamilton believes that the lack of support from some members of the Red Bull team has only made Pérez’s situation worse.
“I think his team is not helping him at all,” he said Thursday on Fox Sports. “I know Red Bull is made up of many members, but there are people who affect him psychologically and don’t support him.
“If I heard such negative things about myself every weekend, it would be very difficult. So it’s a very complicated environment for him, but I think he knows how to deal with it.
“I haven’t experienced anything exactly like what Sergio is going through, but as a driver I understand the psychological and mental pressures. It’s something very heavy that falls on you, and it’s very difficult to let go. ‘explain in words.’
Pérez started the season with two wins from four races and was just six points ahead of Verstappen after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in April. Hamilton believes the Red Bull driver will rediscover some of that performance in front of his home fans this weekend.
“I think he has great support around him, he takes care of himself very well. I was very excited for him at the start of the season because he was driving so well,” he said.
“I even think at one point he led the drivers’ championship, and I thought ‘we’re finally seeing the best of Checo,’ but it’s a very long year and a very long season.
“It’s a very demanding sport, but what I can highlight the most about Pérez is that he always recovers, gets back up and keeps trying. What I can assure you is that Mexico will show up this weekend.
“When I was at Silverstone [Hamilton’s own home track]I was very motivated, and it will definitely be something that happens to him.”
