Marko speaks out against 'unsporting' Mexican fans

Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko has spoken out against the fans who booed Max Verstappen after he took his 50th Formula 1 win in the United States Grand Prix.

Verstappen is just the fifth driver in the sport's history to reach the milestone and is near eclipsing Alan Prost's tally of 51 victories and Sebastian Vettel's 53 wins.

His win from sixth on the grid in Austin was the 15th of a dominant campaign in which he wrapped up his third title in Qatar and took 10 straight wins between Miami and Italy.

When the Dutchman took to the podium to celebrate alongside Lewis Hamilton [before the Mercedes driver's disqualification] and McLaren's Lando Norris, there was an audible chorus of boos from fans below, with chants of 'Checo' being heard, with it likely orchestrated by teammate Sergio Perez's fans.

The Texas event often attracts a large number of Mexican fans from just across the border, leading to a partisan crowd.

'No concerns' over Mexico crowd

Perez has struggled for form ahead of his home race, with rumours persisting that he could be axed from Red Bull if he does not secure a historic second in the Drivers' Championship - with the team having never achieved a one-two in the Drivers' standings - despite consistent measurement from the team's hierarchy.

A lucky break in Austin after Hamilton's expulsion from the race meant the points gap to Perez widened to 39 instead of the 19 it would have been if the Briton's second-place finish had stood.

Perez is one of the most heavily supported drivers on the grid but Marko has no concerns of a repeat should Verstappen win at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

“We are in contact with a lot of Mexicans,” Marko, who recently came under fire for his comments about Mexico and Perez's demeanour, told Sky Germany.

“The majority are very friendly and fair, but there are always some, let's say enthusiastic people, who don't maintain the fair sporting standard.

"But we have no concerns and are happy to go to Mexico.”