Sergio Perez penalised for impeding Hulkenberg in Australian Grand Prix qualifying
Sergio Perez will drop three places down the starting order for the Australian Grand Prix after he was found to have impeded Nico Hulkenberg during qualifying.
Sergio Perez after qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix. (Mark Thompson/Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool/Supplied)
The FIA stewards imposed a three-place penalty on the Mexican for interfering with the Haas driver’s lap.
Hulkenberg had been on a fast lap when he approached turn 13 and found Perez moving slowly at the apex of the turn.
“Hulkenberg was force to lift the throttle early and brake early for that corner,” wrote the stewards.
Red Bull, they said, “was focused on the car in front […] and did not give Perez a warning that Hulkenberg was behind him until one second before Hulkenberg arrived, and significantly too late to avoid impeding…”
Perez had qualified third, and will drop to sixth in the grid order, with Hulkenberg knocked out in Q1 in 16th.
Teammate Max Verstappen will start the race from pole position, with Carlos Sainz alongside him on the front row for Ferrari.
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