Sergio Perez was frank in his assessment of fans at his home Formula 1 race – the Mexico City Grand Prix – for booing Lando Norris at last month’s event.
The home favourite was watching from the sidelines at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the 35-year-old readying himself for his F1 return with Cadillac next year.
Norris claimed a dominant victory, leading from pole position all the way through to take the World Championship lead from McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri.
But in the parc ferme interview in front of the stadium complex of the circuit, Norris was met by a crescendo of loud boos from the home fans.
The Brit responded in stoic fashion, smiling and indicating it was doing little to dent his soaring morale.
“I keep my head down. I ignore all of this. And, yeah, I keep to myself. And it’s working at the minute, so I’m happy. All right, keep doing what you’re doing,” he said.
Speaking to Reuters upon a visit to Cadillac’s Silverstone HQ, Perez was critical of countrymen and women, calling for “respect” to whoever wins the event.
“I don’t think that’s nice, obviously, to be booing the guy that won a race,” he said.
“But at the same time it’s also good to see the feelings of the fans, you know, in terms of how passionate they are. But I think it’s got to be done with respect.
“We have to have respect for the guy that won the race, always. But, yeah, it’s how it is.”
Perez, now testing ahead of Cadillac’s debut, will have an opportunity to once again race before a partisan crowd next year, with the Mexico City GP scheduled for November 1.
READ MORE – The cause behind Lando Norris boos at F1 Mexico GP revealed
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