US presidential election 2016: Sergio Perez dumps sponsor for tweet mocking Mexicans over Donald Trump’s plan for huge border wall
SERGIO Perez has dumped a sponsor for mocking Mexicans about Donald Trump's plan for a border wall.
Hawker Sunglasses apologised for a "grave error" after tweeting that the Formula One star's fellow countrymen should buy the company's shades to hide their tears.
But furious Force India driver Perez said: 'When I read the comment I didn't find it funny at all.
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"I have decided to split with the brand because I am not in favour at all of the comment.
"They are very sorry and I am very sorry, too. I know the owners and they have done incredibly well and the relationship was going to be very successful.
"'But my country and people come first and I want to support them and won't let anyone make fun of my country."
Business tycoon Trump promised to start building an "impenetrable" wall on day one of his presidency if he was elected.
And on Tuesday night the Republican stunned predictions by beating Democrat Hillary Clinton to become president-in-waiting.
Hawkers responded the next day by tweeting: "Mexicans, put on these glasses so they can't see your crying eyes tomorrow when building the wall."
They quickly removed the message and stressed in later tweets that it was a joke.
But former Sauber ace Perez, 26, who partnered Jenson Button at McLaren, was un-moved.
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He said: "I feel sorry because it is a great brand and they have done really well.
"But I am not willing to stay there because basically the brand must be in charge of the social manager.
"It is a shame that the brand pays for it. It is a mistake by one person, and I am sure he regrets it now but that is how things are in life sometimes."
Hawkers' founder David Moreno, posted a Twitter video message to say sorry for "a grave error... a joke, a joke in bad taste".
Perez, also claimed Hawkers should stop production of 20,000 limited edition sunglasses bearing his name.
He still gets financial backing from Carlos Slim, one of the world's wealthiest men.