Perez sees drive-thru penalty for Sirotkin clash as 'fair'

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Sergio Perez held himself partly accountable for his clash in Singapore with Williams' Sergey Sirotkin, labeling the drive-thru penalty he was handed as "fair".

It was a scrappy Sunday for the Force India driver who had collided with team mate Esteban Ocon on the opening lap - a move that left team boss Otmar Szafnauer fuming - before his encounter later in the race with Sirotkin.

Perez looked set for a top-ten finish in Sunday's event when an ill-timed pitstop left him in traffic and behind Sirotkin, the Russian fiercely defending his position.

Frustrated, Perez lost his cool as the two cars battled wheel-to-wheel, moving over on the Williams between Turns 17 and 18 and hitting his opponent.

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Asked to offer his account of the incident when all was said and done, Perez didn't deny his responsibility and the fairness of the penalty.

"I closed the door earlier than I should have so I have to double check but I think the penalty was fair," he said.

"It was hard racing, he was defending his position very hard, fighting very hard, moving a lot under braking and a lot of lock-ups under braking.

"And then as I was going through him, I tried to close the door but I think he was too close."

Perez didn't believe however the clash had any impact on a race that had gone wrong much earlier.

"In the end not ideal. It was very costly, but I don't think it would have changed anything on my result," he added.

"I knew my race was going out of my hands, it was so hard to overtake. I was just burning my brakes, my engine, my tyres, so it was a massive frustration."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.