Sergio Perez received a three-place penalty after qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix for obstructing Nico Hulkenberg, dropping him from third to sixth.
The sports inspectors indicated during qualifying that they would investigate the case in which during Q1 Perez blocked Hulkenberg, who was coming behind him on the fast lap, at Turn 13. The Haas driver finished the race in 16th place and was unable to continue the fight in qualifying, while Perez eventually reached third place.
After the signal, and after listening to the participants and examining radio communications, the inspectors came to the conclusion that Red Bull was currently focusing on slowing the car in front of Perez, and that race engineer Hugh Bird informed the driver of Hulkenberg’s position only one second before the German arrived, and that the time had Roll to avoid suspension.
In line with previous similar cases, and under the title of “unnecessary obstruction,” the FIA imposed a three-start penalty on the Mexican driver, who consequently dropped from third to sixth place on the grid. He will be replaced by Lando Norris, but Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri also won a position.
The penalty does not change the fact that the first three rows of the grid still belong to Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari, with Carlos Sainz finishing second behind Max Verstappen, and George Russell making the most of Mercedes with seventh.
Perez attack from Hulkenberg's onboard camera It can be viewed here.
It didn't work out with Ferrari, Verstappen was pole in Melbourne; Hamilton didn't even make it to Division Three
