F1 News: Red Bull star hit with PENALTY at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Photo: © IMAGO

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Red Bull star hit with PENALTY at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

The Mexican's race will be hampered following the incident

Originally written by Sam Cook. This version is a translation.

Saturday 9 March 2024 23:00

Red Bull's Sergio Perez had more to worry about during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix than his team-mate Max Verstappen, having been hit with a five second time penalty early on.

The Mexican managed to shrug off the setback though, finishing second on the track with enough of a gap back to third-placed Charles Leclerc that he retained his position.

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Perez was hit with a five second penalty for an unsafe release during his first pit stop in front of Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin, a stop that was part of a double stack by the Red Bull team during an early safety car.

In a separate incident, Kevin Magnussen was handed a 10-second time penalty for an incident involving Williams' Alex Albon as the race approached half distance, before being hit with another penalty.

Sergio Perez was handed a penalty during the race

Sergio Perez was trying to keep up with Max Verstappen

Perez's Red Bull misery

However, the double stack led to Perez being put right into the path of Alonso, with the Spaniard telling his team over the radio that he was not pleased with Red Bull's actions.

Magnussen, in the meantime, was hit with a double whammy, having first been penalised for causing a collision with Albon, before being penalised for leaving the track and gaining an advantage in an earlier battle with RB's Yuki Tsunoda, getting hit with two 10-second penalties.

Red Bull Max Verstappen Charles Leclerc Sergio Perez Aston Martin Fernando Alonso