Verstappen gets bodyguards for Perez's home GP

deepl translation:

The boos in Austin were just the beginning: Red Bull is increasing safety measures for Max Verstappen ahead of the Mexico GP.

The boos against dominator Max Verstappen (26) in Austin came just at the right time. Red Bull officials are therefore reacting to the verbal misstep of the Mexican fans present in large numbers in Texas before the race in Mexico City this weekend to protect their superstar.

Verstappen will be accompanied by two bodyguards there. Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko (80) confirmed this to F1-Insider.com. Marko: "Max doesn't really want that and is relaxed. But we have responsibility for him. That's why we just want to play it safe."

What Marko is deliberately concealing. Even before the whistles in Austin, there had been some threats against Versteppen in the social media. This was one of the reasons why Red Bull opted for the bodyguard in Mexico.

Background: In particular, the father of Verstappen's Mexican teammate Sergio Perez (33) has repeatedly ensured in interviews with Mexican media that the Dutchman is seen as an enemy image among his emotional compatriots. They blame the winning Dutchman for their own idol's crisis of form.

Red Bull was a Verstappen team, his son would have no chance to show his true performance, was the basic tenor of Perez Senior's statements. One thing is certain: While Verstappen took his 15th win of the season in Austin, Perez still has to fear to achieve his minimum goal: the vice world championship title after finishing fourth in the U.S. GP. After two wins in the first four races, Perez slipped into a crisis of form. Before his home race, he is only 39 points ahead of Mercedes superstar Lewis Hamilton, who is getting better and better with the Mercedes, while Perez is stagnating.

Fortunately for Perez, Hamilton, who finished second behind Verstappen in Austin, was disqualified for a floor panel on his car that did not comply with the regulations after the race. Otherwise, the gap would only be 19 points. Alone: The trend clearly favors Hamilton in the remaining four races.

Experts like ex-Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher see the blame solely with Perez. Schumacher to F1-Insider.com: "Max makes the difference. Every great champion tries to have the car tuned for his needs and also developed. That was the case with my brother, with Senna and also with Lewis Hamilton. The lower-performing teammate has to live with it. It's up to each driver to convince his team. A Formula 1 team always sides with the driver who promises more success. That's the way the business was and is."

The six-time GP winner has a clear opinion of Perez: "He drives the same car as Verstappen and can't keep up with him. That said, the race in Austin wasn't bad. But celebrating a fifth-place finish, which was Sergio's before Hamilton's disqualification, is simply too little for a Red Bull driver. The whistles against Max were unspeakable. He makes the difference as a driver and therefore the fans would have to pay respect to his special performances with applause."

One thing is certain: Before the Mexican GP, Red Bull executives expect Perez to take the wind out of the sails of the hatred against Verstappen by making public announcements. The Mexican also still enjoys full support from his team for this reason. Team boss Christian Horner defends his problem child ahead of his team's home race. Horner: "Sergio probably has the toughest job in Formula 1, because Max drives at such a high level and does so incessantly. You have to cope with that mentally. Because you ask yourself every time you see his data: How the hell does he actually do it? Max has been driving at such a high level for three or four years that it would be difficult for any other driver."

The favorite for the Mexico GP is definitely Verstappen. And with that, he can even help Perez clinch the runner-up title. Because, according to Helmut Marko, "Every point Max takes away from Hamilton also helps Perez in the end."