Lewis Hamilton has suggested that some people at Red Bull affect Sergio Perez mentally, and are not fully behind the Mexican, as he prepares for the 2023 Mexico City Grand Prix.
Formula 1 is in Mexico City, for Perez‘s home race, he’ll be cheered on by thousands of fans across the weekend, but Hamilton that the lack of support has had an effect on the Mexican’s performances with Red Bull.
“I think that his team is not helping him at all,” Hamilton told Fox Sports ahead of the weekend’s action in the Mexican capital.
“I know that Red Bull are 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 he’s in a very complicated environment, but I think he knows how to deal with it.
“I haven’t experienced something exactly like what Sergio Perez is going through, but as a driver I understand the psychological and mental pressures.
“It’s something that falls on you very heavily, and is very difficult to explain in words.”
Hamilton backs Perez
Perez has coped wit criticism this year after seeing an early title challenge wane, in the face of some incredible dominance from Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen, with the likes of team advisor Helmut Marko voicing his concerns.
“I was very excited for him at the beginning of the season, because he was driving so well,” Hamilton added. “I even think that at some point he led the drivers’ championship and I thought ‘we are finally seeing the best of Checo’, but it’s a very long year and a very long season.
“This is a very demanding sport, but what I can highlight most about Perez is that he always recovers, gets up, and keeps trying.”
Finally, Hamilton expects a huge reception to spur the Red Bull driver on this weekend, with the pair of them battling it out for second place in the Drivers’ standings this year:
“Something I can assure is that Mexico is going to show itself this weekend,” Hamilton said. “When I was at Silverstone I was very motivated and it will surely be something that will happen to him.”
