FIA hits Helmut Marko with an official warning for his comment about Sergio Perez

Marko, 80, referred to Mexican Perez's background when discussing his driver's inconsistent form this season.

Speaking after the Italian Grand Prix earlier this month, Marko, Red Bull's motorsport adviser and an ally of the team's late co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz, said: "Let's remember that he (Perez) is South American and so he is not as focused as Max Verstappen or Sebastian Vettel was." Marko subsequently apologised for the remarks.

But the FIA said ahead of this weekend's round in Singapore: "We can confirm that Helmut Marko has received a written warning and been reminded of his responsibilities as a public figure in motor sport in line with the FIA Code of Ethics."

Earlier this week, Lewis Hamilton described Marko's comments as "completely unacceptable".

And on Friday, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said: "It doesn't have a place in Formula One. It is not something that should have been said in the past, certainly not now, and not in the future.

"We all know that we need more diversity in F1, greater inclusion, and statements like this don't shine the light on F1 that it deserves."

Speaking on Sky Sports, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner added: "Firstly those comments (by Marko) were not right.

"Helmut quickly recognised that and apologised for that, both publicly and directly to Sergio.

"You are always learning in life, even at 80 years of age, and inevitably lessons have been learned."

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