Sauber bans Perez’s father

Sauber has banned Sergio Perez’s father from attending grands prix, the Swiss newspaper Blick revealed on Wednesday.

The report said the Mexican’s dad Antonio - himself a former Mexican F3 champion - struggled to cope trackside last year when his son was injured at Monaco.

But Blick said the final straw was last weekend in Malaysia, when 22-year-old Perez was pushing for victory at slippery Sepang, and his father flitted "nervously" around the paddock.

"So the Hinwil based team gave the likeable Mexican some good advice: stay home and save your nerves," wrote veteran correspondent Roger Benoit from Shanghai.