Pepe Marti has publicly apologised for using a discriminatory slur over team radio immediately after Race 2 of the Formula E Jeddah E-Prix.
Marti’s team-mate Dan Ticktum and the Spaniard were in fifth and sixth places respectively in the closing laps, when the pair touched, with Marti making additional contact with the wall.
Ticktum was depleting in terms of battery, and was valiantly attempting to hold his position from the charge of his team-mate.
No real damage was done on the track, as both cars maintained their positions and finished in them, securing a double-points finish for the American squad.
But on the cool down lap, things were far from cool in Marti’s helmet, who fired off a rant at his team.
“We need to have a serious talk,” he said. “I don’t accept that. I may be a rookie but I’m not a r****d. That is a r****d move.”
Marti immediately showed contrition, and when speaking in the media pen after the race, told Motorsport Week of his regret at the words used
“I want to apologise publicly for the language I used after the incident with Dan,” he said.
“It was heat of the moment, it was just bad words chosen at the [most] wrong time.
“I just want to apologise for that, it was unnecessary and also to the team because it was heat of the moment.”
Pepe Marti cites ‘miscommunication’ for Jeddah incident
Marti explained that Ticktum had not been told that he held a battery disadvantage, and revealed the pair had already discussed the incident and believed that the air was clear.
“The race itself and the incident with Dan, it was a massive miscommunication,” he said. “He wasn’t aware that I had a lot more energy and obviously he wants to defend his position which is completely fair from him.
“Obviously we talked about it, there’s no harsh feelings from my side and I don’t think there’s any harsh feelings from Dan’s side anyways.
“The least we can do is just go forward and looking at the bright side, yes we had a small touch but we have 18 points [sic, 19].
“That’s what we need to look at, that’s how the weekend of the Kiro race should be summed up.
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