Yahoo Autos Perez nets grid penalty for trying to avoid safety car in Canada
Sergio Perez will take a three-place grid penalty at the next race he participates in for driving his car in an unsafe condition in the Canadian Grand Prix, under the instruction of Red Bull.
The Mexican spun into the barrier at Turn 6 and damaged his rear wing heavily on lap 52, at which point Max Verstappen had a lead of over 5s in a chaotic race. Perez then rejoined the track and drove back to the pits with his rear wing hanging off and carbon fiber being dropped on the track, retiring in the garage.
The stewards investigated the incident for Perez driving the car in an unsafe condition, and heard that Red Bull told him to return to the pits rather than stop on track in order to avoid a potential safety car that would have seen the field bunched up again behind Verstappen.
Red Bull was fined €25,000 for its part in giving that instruction, while Perez will receive a three-place grid penalty at the Spanish Grand Prix in two weeks’ time — or the next race he takes part in if he misses that event for any reason — as it was felt a more severe punishment was required than solely a financial one.
“After making contact with the barriers in Turn 6, the driver continued on track for the remainder of the lap with a significantly damaged car and thereby lost several carbon fiber parts on the way back to the pits,” the stewards decision read. “The team confirmed in the hearing that the driver had been advised to bring the car back to the pits as they were trying to avoid a safety car situation.
“The stewards determine that, as well as a financial penalty for the team, a sporting penalty is necessary due to the safety implications of the incident. The penalty is imposed in line with precedents.”
Perez has failed to score in each of the last two races, retiring in incidents after starting 16th in both Monaco and Canada, and last reached Q3 at the Miami Grand Prix last month.
