Sergio Perez FUMES at F1 stewards over Abu Dhabi penalty

Pérez in aanloop naar race in Canada — Photo: © LAT Images

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Perez FUMES at F1 stewards over Abu Dhabi penalty

The decision saw Perez miss out on a podium at the season finale

Joe Ellis

Sunday 26 November 2023 20:57 Updated: 22:08

Sergio Perez was in disbelief at the FIA stewards after a time penalty saw him lose a podium at the Abu Dhabi GP.

The Mexican's sublime race pace saw him fight through from ninth on the grid to second over the line, courtesy of Charles Leclerc letting him through to try and hold up George Russell in the fight for second in the constructors' standings.

He dropped back down to fourth after the penalty was applied having barged past Lando Norris, causing contact and the McLaren to go across the turn six and seven chicane.

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The stewards decided that Perez did not do enough to avoid the collision and penalised him as a result, leaving the Red Bull driver laughing at the decision he clearly did not agree with.

Sergio Perez's battle with Lando Norris was one of the very few things to note in the season finale

Lando Norris couldn't match the pace of Red Bull, Charles Leclerc or George Russell at Yas Marina

Perez: It made me laugh

"We have commissioners who have never got their arses into an F1 car," Perez fumed when speaking to Canal+ after the race.

"It's up to the two drivers to play the game. I blocked the rear wheels and it made me laugh to take the penalty.

I didn't understand why Leclerc gave me the place. Well, after that it wasn't a big deal, apparently."

Perez still finished ahead of Norris, who came home fifth and lost out in the battle for fourth in the drivers' standings to Leclerc (fifth) and Fernando Alonso (fourth).

Perez took offence over the team radio as well at his penalty, with a rant that earned him further punishment from the FIA in the form of a formal warning.

Lando Norris George Russell Charles Leclerc Sergio Perez