Sergio Perez has received a five-second time penalty for a clash with Alex Albon during the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix – but retains eighth place.
The Red Bull driver launched a lunge up the inside of Albon at Turn 13 but ended up making contact with the Williams driver as he forced his way past.
As a result of the incident, both drivers were summoned to the race stewards, who placed the blame predominantly with Perez.
The stewards considered Perez’s attempted overtake as an “‘optimistic’ late manoeuvre” that could be defined as “diving in”. The stewards also agreed that there was nothing that the Albon could have done to avoid the contact.
Perez, who branded the clash a “racing incident”, was awarded a five-second time penalty, which did not impact his eighth-place finishing position. Alex Albon finished the race 11th.
Alexander Albon (THA) Williams Racing FW45.
17.09.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 16, Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, Race Day.
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The Mexican was also handed one penalty point on his super license, instead of the usual two, as the stewards determined that the presence of the slower Liam Lawson ahead meant that Perez felt that a move was possible.
Perez and Albon were also involved in a second incident with each other, this time with the Williams driver allegedly overtaking Perez under Virtual Safety Car conditions.
Albon was returning to the track after exiting the pit lane and emerged alongside Perez. But as the two drivers crossed the second Safety Car line, timing systems and video evidence were both unable to determine the correct running order.
It was agreed that no further action would be taken as no definitive information was available.
“I was ahead of him and Alex overtook me under the Safety Car,” Perez claimed. “But the system is not good enough, so they couldn’t tell us at the time that I was ahead. But anyway, it’s how things are and now let’s look forward to Japan.”
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