In the first 24 hours following Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election we saw the global economy tank, then bounce back. But the election results also indirectly impacted the world of Formula 1.
Sahara Force India driver Sergio Perez announced Wednesday he severed ties with his sponsor Hawkers MX, following a tweet making a joke about Trump’s proposed border wall.
“What a bad comment,” Perez said, translation via Autoweek. “Today I finish my relationship with Hawkers MX. I will never let anyone mock my country.”
One of the most well-known elements of Trump’s platform is a concrete wall along the U.S.-Mexico border that he says Mexico will pay for. Hawkers attempted to make light of this policy in a tweet that the Mexican-born F1 driver took offense to.
Hawkers has since apologized and deleted the tweet, which reportedly said:Â “Mexicans, put these glasses on so people don’t see your swelling eyes when the wall is being built in the morning,” the message from Hawkers Mexico read,” according to Autoweek.
The sunglasses company reportedly released Sergio Perez special edition glasses not to long ago. On the driver’s personal website, there is still a Hawkers section of his apparel store, but all products have been removed from the page.
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Thumbnail photo via Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports Images
