Perez handed three-place grid penalty for impeding

Sergio Perez has been handed a three place grid penalty for the Australian Grand Prix after being deemed to have impeded Nico Hulkenberg during the first round of today's qualifying session

The incident was referred to the race stewards at the time and reviewed after qualifying was concluded, which saw Perez finish in third place to put him on the second row of tomorrow's grid.

The Haas has been forced to take avoiding action on his flying lap after encountering Perez who was heading into turn 13 on a slower outlap

"Hulkenberg had to leave the racing line to drive around him," stated the stewards in the official statement from the FIA. "Hulkenberg was forced to lift the throttle early and brake early for that corner.

"In reviewing the audio from Perez’ car, the stewards observed that the team was focused on the car in front of Perez that had just slowed 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.

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"While the stewards appreciate the dynamic situation facing the team and driver during the Q1 session, which was described in the hearing, the stewards find that Perez 'unnecessarily Impeded' Hulkenberg and issue a three grid place drop, consistent with previous cases."

“He was having a Mexican siesta, I think,” a disgruntled Hulkenberg said of Perez after the incident. “He wasn't looking in the mirror, and the closing speed coming around turn 12 is so quick now.

If you're not paying attention enough it happens very easily and quickly, but of course it shouldn't happen," the German driver added.

Hulkenberg ended up missing the cut at the end of Q1, but didn't think that the impeding incident had been the reason he had not progressed to the second round of qualifying.

“The final run was not a clean lap unfortunately,” he told reporters in the paddock when asked about his final run in Q1. “I was up on myself but then out of Turn 7 the wind somehow changed and I lost more than a tenth on the straight.

"Then something happened in turn 9: I went in a little bit too fast, overloaded the front tyre and for the rest of the lap had a lot of understeer and lost all the laptime I had gained," he added. "“Not the cleanest of quali days.”

The penalty drops Perez down to sixth place on the grid, while McLaren's Lando Norris will move up a place to P3, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc advances to fourth, and Oscar Piastri will start his home race from P5 in the second McLaren.

Prior to the decision being handed down, Perez had stated that he was pleased with the outcome of qualifying. "I think P2 was achievable, but I am still pleased with P3," he said. "This is a good starting point."

Team boss Christian Horner had also been pleased with the outcome of qualifying and with Perez' performance. "Checo did equally as well as Verstappen, delivering a great lap as well to put himself third on the grid."

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