The father of Sergio Pérez attacked Ralf Schumacher by arguing about the homosexuality of the former driver, now a commentator on German television, who recently said of Pérez that he “wouldn't go a kilometer in a car” in 2025.
Antonio Perez Garibay (right in bottom photo), the Mexican's father and well-known politician in the country, told the Spanish-language ESPN Racing podcast that experts like Schumacher should “apologize”before launching into a tirade of fully assumed homophobia.
“There was a driver, or a journalist, a former Formula 1 driver, who first claimed that Checo had been fired from Red Bull, then the following week he came out.” said Pérez Senior. “I don't know, maybe he's in love with Checo? There's a lot of strange things happening.”
“We no longer know if he is a journalist, a woman or a man. But even his words are questionable, not because of Checo, but because of what his ex-wife said about him” added Pérez Garibay, referring to the conflict between Ralf and Cora Schumacher.
Ralf Schumacher responded on Instagram, explaining that he had no anger towards the Mexican: “I would also support my son 100% and try to help him. That's what you do as a father.”
“On form, I would do things differently, but we know Mr. Pérez and his emotions. That's why I'm not angry with him. However, I think that the results on the track would be better arguments.”
Pérez Senior also hit out at Lance Stroll, suggesting that any claim that Sergio Pérez is a paying driver at the same level as the Canadian is incorrect.
“I'm not Mr. Stroll. I don't have the money to buy my son a Formula 1 team and we don't have the capital to be present in this way either. Checo is here thanks to himself, and the place he occupies is due only to him.”
However, he admits that his son benefits from the financial support of billionaires: “We all know that F1 teams need sponsors, that they need the support of the country and that at the moment Checo Pérez is the most famous person in this country. He has made a great revolution around the world and in Latin America.
Steiner “wanted the blood” of Ralf Schumacher
Ralf Schumacher has also been singled out by former Haas boss Günther Steiner, who was the subject of sustained criticism from Schumacher during his nephew Mick Schumacher's time in F1.
“It was at this time that my famous war of words began with Ralf, Mick’s uncle” Steiner wrote. “Remember that? It had more titles than some races at the time.”
“He and I have since buried the hatchet, but I have no hesitation in admitting that Ralf's timing of his outburst could not have been worse. It worsened a relationship that was beginning to become difficult and helped drive a wedge between Mick and me.”
“Looking back, as the team manager, I should have risen above that, but I didn't. It's one of the many things I would change, as well that kicking Ralf's ass in the paddock instead of thinking about it! In 2022, I wanted his blood.”
Ralf Schumacher, however, declared this summer that he had reached an agreement with RTL, the German channel for which he and Steiner work, in order not to “no longer have joint appearances on television. In Bahrain, I put our arguments aside, but that is no longer possible.”
