Sergio Pérez penalized on the Australian GP grid

Initially third on the starting grid, Sergio Pérez will start from sixth place following his penalty. The commissioners considered that the Mexican driver had interfered Hulkenberg during his first attempt in Q1, in the penultimate corner of the Albert Park track.

Hülkenberg ultimately did not manage to place his Haas in Q2, while Pérez took third place on the grid. The Mexican will therefore have a lot to do tomorrow from sixth position! Lando Norris et Charles Leclerc will occupy the second line of the grid, and Oscar piastri will start fifth.

The full decision of the commissioners

“The Stewards heard from Sergio Pérez and Nico Hülkenberg, the team representatives Red Bull and Haas, and reviewed data from position systems, video, telemetry, radio communications and on-board cameras.

Hülkenberg was on a fast lap when he entered Turn 13. Pérez, who was on an exit lap, was at the apex of the corner, and Hülkenberg had to go off course to get around him. Hülkenberg was forced to ease off the accelerator and brake early for this corner.

Reviewing the audio from Pérez's car, the stewards observed that the team was focused on the car in front of Pérez, which had just slowed down, and did not warn the driver that Hülkenberg was coming, only giving him a second before the arrival of Hülkenberg. Much too late to avoid embarrassing him.

Although the commissioners appreciated the dynamic situation in which the team and driver found themselves during the Q1 session, which was described during the hearing, the commissioners believe that Pérez “unnecessarily hindered” Hülkenberg and issued a withdrawal of three places on the grid, as in the previous cases. »

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