Sergio Perez will serve a 3-place grid penalty at the upcoming Spanish GP for driving his RB20 in an unsafe condition. The Mexican driver spun out and hit the wall in the later stages of the race, damaging his rear wing. However, Red Bull told him to make his way back into the pits – rather than pull to the side.
It was another weekend to forget for Sergio Perez. The 34-year-old struggled for pace all weekend, doing little to combat the growing criticism following his latest Red Bull contract.
To make matters worse, he will carry a penalty into the next race. Despite not being in the fight for points, Perez committed a significant error that put him into the wall.
FIA EXPLAIN DECISION TO AWARD A PENALTY TO PEREZ
The FIA investigated and subsequently penalised him after the race. He risked leaving significant debris on track as his RB20’s rear wing clung on for dear life.
Here is the official justification for the FIA’s decision:
“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 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 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.”
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – JUNE 09: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 leads Kevin Magnussen of Denmark driving the (20) Haas F1 VF-24 Ferrari on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 09, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202406090974 // Usage for editorial use only //
All in all, this seems like a very fair response from the stewards. Red Bull knowingly advised Perez to take the less safe option to prevent a Safety Car.
Ironically, only moments later, Sainz would spin and send Albon into the well – creating a Safety Car anyway.
Still, for a driver struggling to perform, this 3-place grid penalty will only complicate his efforts at the Spanish GP.
