Red Bull ‘forced to hire BODYGUARDS for Max Verstappen’ after F1 champ’s Wag Kelly Piquet fumed at his treatment

RED BULL have hired BODYGUARDS for Max Verstappen ahead of this week’s Mexico Grand Prix.

That’s after the driver’s champion was booed last time out in Austin.

Reuters

Verstappen was booed on the podium in Austin[/caption]

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

But he was booed by F1 fans there to support Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.

There is a feeling from Perez fans that he has been disrespected by Red Bull.

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

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 and said: “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:

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“I don’t think Max is going to get the warmest reception in Mexico! 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.

“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 opened 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 team-mate will surely be a concern to his team.