Grid Penalty for Perez Alters Starting Lineup for Australian GP

In a prelude to the much-anticipated Australian Grand Prix, Sergio Perez faces a setback as he receives a three-place grid penalty for impeding Nico Hulkenberg during qualifying sessions. The penalty reshuffles the starting lineup for Sunday’s race in Melbourne.

Originally slated for a third-place start, Perez now finds himself relegated to the sixth position, allowing McLaren’s Lando Norris to ascend to third and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to claim fourth.

Adding to the drama, Australian driver Oscar Piastri, representing McLaren, secures fifth place amidst the home crowd’s fervor, pushing Perez further down the grid.

Max Verstappen, Perez’s teammate at Red Bull, seizes pole position, with Carlos Sainz of Ferrari following closely in second.

The penalty stems from an incident during Q1 qualifying, where Perez failed to heed warnings about Hulkenberg’s fast-approaching Haas car. Stewards concluded that Perez’s actions “unnecessarily impeded” Hulkenberg, resulting in the grid penalty.

Perez, currently occupying the second spot in the drivers’ championship, faces heightened scrutiny as he navigates the remainder of his contract year with Red Bull, following impressive performances in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.