Helmut Marko slammed for 'disgraceful' comment about Sergio Perez after Max Verstappen wins F1 title

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko aimed a brutal dig at Sergio Perez after his team-mate Max Verstappen won the F1 Drivers' Championship at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Verstappen finished fifth in Vegas, which was enough to secure his record-equalling fourth consecutive championship.

His title rival, Lando Norris, could only finish sixth, meaning the Dutchman has an unassailable lead in the standings with two more races to go.

Red Bull endured a challenging weekend from the start as the team sent the wrong rear wing to Vegas, which required several adjustments before qualifying.

Verstappen was running as high as second from fifth on the grid during the race, but Lewis Hamilton and both Ferraris overtook him as the Red Bull struggled with tyre degradation.

But the result mattered little after the race, with Verstappen once again celebrating a championship win.

Speaking to DAZN, Marko - who is employed as an advisor by the team's parent company rather than the racing team itself - expressed his delight at Verstappen's success.

But he also aimed a brutal comment towards Perez about his underperformance this season, with the Mexican's lack of points likely to cost Red Bull an opportunity at winning the Constructors' Championship.

Marko said: "We have to have two drivers who finish in the points. Max is more than 200 points ahead of Sergio.

"For now, the main thing was to win the championship for Max. But for our employees, it is a disappointment because they will not receive their bonuses, as they depend on our position in the Constructors' Championship."

With the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc finishing third and fourth in Vegas, compared to fifth for Verstappen and 10th for Perez, Red Bull now appear set to finish in third place in the standings.

But Marko's comments about Perez's disappointing season - he has not finished higher than sixth in the last 16 races - rubbed some fans the wrong way.

Taking to Twitter, one wrote: "It's your own fault. Loads of chances to put other people in the car."

A second added: "Give him a f***ing car he can drive and a competent side of the garage."

A third said: "Criticise yourself and Horner for handing him contracts in the first place."

And a fourth added: "You should have given him his marching orders mid year. Absolutely disgraceful management."

And a fifth stated: "It's on the team for not improving the second garage year by year since Gasly."

And another simply asked: "Why is he still driving then?"