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Sergio Perez has publicly criticized his father, Antonio Perez Garibay, for making homophobic comments about former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher. Schumacher, who raced in Formula 1 from 1997 to 2007, came out as gay earlier this year, receiving widespread support, including from Lewis Hamilton. In response to comments made by Schumacher regarding Perez’s future at Red Bull, Perez Garibay made remarks that appeared to mock Schumacher’s sexuality.
“There is a driver who was a Formula 1 driver, [turned] journalist. He first stated that Checo was already out of Red Bull. The following week, [Schumacher] came out of the closet,” Perez Garibay was quoted as saying to Mexican media.
“I don’t know if he was in love with Checo. Do you understand it? There are many strange things. You no longer know if he is a journalist, a woman, a gentleman. But his opinion doesn’t matter, not because of Checo Perez, but because of what his [ex-]wife said about him," he added.
Perez responds
When asked if he would address his father’s remarks ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Perez responded firmly.
“Yeah definitely. First of all, I don’t agree with any of his comments, I think he did a mistake in that regard. I don’t share any of his views, but at the same time, I don’t control what my father has to say. I can only control what I say," Perez told Sky Sports F1.
Las Vegas GP ahead
As the Las Vegas GP approaches, all teams, including Red Bull, are preparing for the race weekend, with FP1 set for November 21. The Las Vegas race is unique for two reasons: it’s a night race, and the main event will take place on Saturday night rather than the usual Sunday. Last year’s inaugural Las Vegas GP also occurred later than most races, with the Grand Prix starting at 10 PM. Given the time of year, the weather could be quite cold, potentially making the race challenging for the drivers.
For the promoters, however, Las Vegas has become one of the most exciting and energetic races on the calendar, with immense buzz surrounding the event. Regarding Red Bull, the team has been active in various promotional activities with their car in Las Vegas.
Sergio Perez currently sits 8th in the Driver Standings, while his teammate Max Verstappen is in a strong position to win the title.
