Red Bull hire bodyguards for Max Verstappen ahead of Mexican GP

Red Bull has taken an extreme approach to protecting Max Verstappen at this weekend’s Mexican GP.

Red Bull star Max Verstappen can expect some extra company in Mexico City. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Red Bull have hired bodyguards for Max Verstappen ahead of this week’s Mexico Grand Prix.

The move comes after the driver’s champion was booed last time out in Austin and an expected response from teammate Sergio Perez’s fans in Mexico City, The Sun reports.

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Verstappen continued his dominance this season as he got his 15th win of the year at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas.

But he was booed by F1 fans there to support Perez, with a feeling among the Mexican’s fans he has been disrespected by Red Bull this season.

And while the chorus of boos was ongoing, Verstappen’s girlfriend Kelly Piquet looked visibly unimpressed.

Red Bull star Max Verstappen can expect some extra company in Mexico City. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Perez enjoys a strong support in Texas, but that support will be magnified tenfold at his home race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico.

Perez has struggled again this season to match Verstappen and there is talk that he could lose his Red Bull seat going into next season.

Red Bull director Helmut Marko explained the decision to give Verstappen additional protection in Mexico to F1 Insider, stating: “Max doesn’t actually want that and is relaxed.

“But we have responsibility for him. So we just want to be on the safe side.”

Team Principal Christian Horner explained that while he expects Verstappen to receive a hostile reception, he doesn’t think it will bother the Dutchman.

Helmut Marko (left) has instigated the extra security for his star man Verstappen. (Mark Thompson/Getty Images/AFP)

Verstappen has a simple response for all the booing. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

“I don’t think Max is going to get the warmest reception in Mexico,” he said.

“But that’s water off a duck’s back. One year you are the villain, the next year you are the hero.”

Verstappen has won four of the last five races in Mexico with Red Bull historically being very suited to the track.

There is speculation that should Perez fail to secure second place in the Driver’s Championship, he will lose his spot on the team.

But Horner poured cold water on that suggestion, saying: “With this car, it would be fantastic in such a season that we’ve had if we could finish first and second.

As Americans we would like to disown the Austin crowd that boo’d Max verstappen 😭

— The Grid Gals (@grid_gals) October 24, 2023

“But there’s no pre-mandate on ‘Checo’ that you have to finish second or you won’t be driving the car next year.

“That’s never been discussed.”

Perez won two of the opening four races this season before his form both in qualifying and races completely tailed off.

He has occasionally finished on the podium but his inability to challenge or even support his teammate will surely be a concern to his team.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Red Bull hire bodyguards for Max Verstappen ahead of Mexican GP