Perez handed Azerbaijan grid penalty for impeding Piastri

Sergio Perez has been given a three-place grid penalty for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after stewards ruled that he impeded Oscar Piastri during qualifying in Baku.

The incident happened in Q1 through Turns 18, 19 and 20. Piastri was on a flying lap and had to lift off to avoid Perez’s Cadillac, which was on a preparation lap.

RacingNews365’s account of the stewards’ findings says Perez received two warnings that Piastri was approaching. The race director’s instructions required drivers on preparation laps to stay on the right-hand side of the track, but Perez was weaving to warm his tyres instead.

Piastri told the stewards he did not feel he had lost significant time despite lifting, and the stewards judged that the incident was not dangerous. They nevertheless found that Perez had impeded him, citing the warnings, his failure to follow the instructions and Piastri’s need to lift.

Perez qualified 19th but is set to drop just one place to 20th, exchanging positions with Cadillac team-mate Valtteri Bottas. Both Aston Martin drivers have back-of-the-grid engine penalties, accounting for the smaller net change despite Perez’s three-place sanction.