Sergio Perez penalised with three-place grid penalty for Australian Grand Prix for impeding Nico Hulkenberg as Mexican star set to start in P6
- The Mexican F1 driver was penalized for dropping to position six before the race
- The 34-year-old Perez is in the final year of his contract with Red Bull
- Perez’s teammate Max Verstappen is on pole position at the Australian Grand Prix
Sergio Perez has been handed a three-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Australian GP after impeding Nico Hulkenberg.
Perez’s position has been adjusted from third to sixth due to the penalty.
Consequently, McLaren’s Lando Norris rises to third, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc moves to fourth.
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri, representing McLaren, takes fifth place ahead of his home race in Melbourne, ahead of Perez, who has been relegated.
Max Verstappen, Perez’s teammate at Red Bull, secures pole position, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in second place.
Sergio Perez has been given a three-place time penalty after hindering Nico Hülkenberg
It turned out that the Red Bull pit wall had not sufficiently warned Perez of the rapidly approaching Haas car
McLaren’s Lando Norris rises to third, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is fourth
After discussions with race stewards, it was determined that Red Bull’s pit wall had not sufficiently warned Perez of the rapidly approaching Haas car during Q1 qualifying. Perez was on a slower out lap at the time.
The stewards explained: ‘Hulkenberg was on a fast lap as he approached Turn 13. Perez, who was on an out lap, was at the apex of the corner and Hulkenberg had to leave the racing line to go around him.
‘Hülkenberg had to accelerate early and brake early for that corner.
‘While reviewing the audio from Perez’s car, the Stewards noted that the team was focused on the car in front of Perez which had just slowed down, and only gave Perez a warning that Hulkenberg was behind him a second before Hulkenberg arrived. it’s too late not to bother Hulkenberg.’ They added.
‘While the Stewards appreciate the dynamic situation the team and driver faced during the Q1 session, which was detailed during the hearing, the Stewards consider that Perez has ‘unnecessarily hindered’ Hülkenberg and issue a drop of three starting places, consistent with previous cases.”
Perez, 34, sits second in the Drivers’ Championship after securing second place in the opening races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. He is in the final year of his contract with Red Bull.