Perez will be penalized three grid positions at the next Formula One race in Spain after driving his car in an unsafe condition at the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday. A fine of €25,000 ($26,935) was also imposed on Red Bull as a result of the incident.
The Mexican driver caught a wet patch on the road with his right-side slicks, causing him to cuddle with the barriers at the end of Turn 6 on Montreal’s wet-to-dry Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Checo was forced to retire from the race after driving around the track with a damaged rear wing, leaving plenty of debris on the track after the incident.
According to FIA regulations outlined in Article 26.10, if a driver experiences serious mechanical difficulties, they must exit the track at the earliest safe opportunity.
Stewards said in a statement that Red Bull had confirmed at the hearing that Perez had been advised to bring the car back to the pits to avoid a potential safety car situation if he stopped on track.
“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 stewards stated in their official press release.
“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.” They added.
The stewards emphasized the necessity of a sporting penalty in addition to the financial one, citing safety implications.
The Canadian Grand Prix consistently offers one of the most entertaining races to watch each year, both inside the circuit and out, thanks to its location on the scenic artificial Notre Dame island.
The Spanish Grand Prix grid drop adds to Perez’s tough stint, having missed the cut in the first phase of qualifying and failing to finish in each of his last two races.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, serving as the host of the Spanish Grand Prix, holds a prestigious status as one of the longest-serving venues on the Formula 1 calendar. It has continuously hosted the Spanish Grand Prix since its inauguration in 1991, without any interruptions.
Typically, teams and drivers are familiar with the Barcelona track, not only due to its consistent presence on the calendar but also because it’s a favored testing venue. However, this year was an exception, as Formula 1 reduced the preseason testing due to its unusually longer official calendar, with testing only taking place in Bahrain.
The Spanish Grand Prix will take place from the 21st to the 23rd of this month, marking the final race before the summer break. The ongoing Red Bull saga continues to create drama, while Carlos Sainz is still undecided about his future.
About Oversports
Beto Rodríguez is a Mexican-American independent thinker who currently works as a journalist for national and international news stations. He grew up on the U.S.-Mexican border and has extensive knowledge of both sides of the river. Additionally, Beto has also worked in various positions in the fields of social, political and business management.
In the Oversport column, Rodríguez provides comprehensive coverage of local and global sports to help keep El Pasoans better informed about current sports.
Beto also writes a column called SUNNY SIDE UP, where he writes about corruption and helps to provide a voice to the unheard.
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Beto is also a community advocate involved in exposing corruption and the issues affecting the city through elections and legislation. As a grassroots activist, he started a toy drive called Toys-4-Smiles, which has been helping local kids and shelters since 2022. He aims to make it an annual project every Christmas.