Sergio Perez has been handed a three-place grid penalty for the upcoming race after driving a severely damaged car during the Canadian Grand Prix. This decision comes after Perez, under team orders, drove his car back to the pits despite significant damage, risking the safety of other drivers.
Incident Details
The incident occurred at turn six of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where Perez lost control and collided with the barriers. The impact caused substantial damage to his car, particularly to the rear wing, which was left hanging precariously. Despite this, Perez managed to drive away from the crash site.
Red Bull Racing, Perez’s team, admitted they instructed him to return to the pits in an effort to avoid triggering a Safety Car period. This decision was influenced by the fact that Max Verstappen, Perez’s teammate, was leading the race at the time.
Stewards’ Ruling
The race stewards noted that as Perez made his way back to the pits, various parts of his car were falling off, creating a hazard for other drivers. The official statement from the stewards highlighted the potential dangers:
“After making contact with the barriers in turn six, the driver continued on track for the remainder of the lap with a significantly damaged car and thereby lost several carbon fibre parts on the way back to the pits. 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 determined 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.”
As a result, Perez will face a three-place grid drop at the next race. Additionally, Red Bull Racing has been fined €25,000 for their role in the incident. Notably, Perez was not given any additional penalty points on his super license, although he currently has eight points.
Team Principal’s Comments
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner described the weekend as particularly challenging for Perez, who was eliminated in Q1 and also had a collision with Pierre Gasly on the first lap, culminating in the race-ending crash.
“Obviously we picked up some damage,” Horner said in an interview with Sky Sports. “So he’ll need to come back strong in Barcelona.”
Horner acknowledged that the team’s rivals, Ferrari, did not score any points, which somewhat mitigated the impact of Perez’s incident. “Thankfully Ferrari had a shocker today so didn’t get any points so that let us off the hook somewhat. But we need both cars scoring. We got away with it today but we need Checo back up there where he was at the beginning of the year from Barcelona onwards.”
Looking Ahead
With the grid penalty and the fine, Perez and Red Bull Racing face added pressure heading into the next race in Barcelona. Perez will need to focus on a strong performance to help his team in the championship battle and to regain his early-season form.
This incident underscores the delicate balance between strategic decisions and safety in Formula 1, highlighting the importance of ensuring the well-being of all drivers on the track.
