17/09/2016
NEWS STORY
Sergio Perez has been handed two grid penalties following incidents in today's qualifying session.
In the first, the Force India driver was adjudged to have "failed to reduce his speed significantly and be prepared to change direction or stop as required" - as under Art2.4.5.1(b) - when double yellow flags were being waved at both Turns 9 and 10 following Romain Grosjean's crash.
The Stewards took into consideration the fact that Perez had two corners in which to slow down significantly but failed to do so and both of which were blind corners - including one where the accident had taken place and where the damaged car was still in the barriers - and where the he would not have known if the track had a hazard wholly or partly blocking the track and/or marshals working on or beside the track.
For this, the Force India driver was handed a drop of 5 grid positions and 3 penalty points.
For overtaking Esteban Gutierrez in Turn 16 while yellow flags were displayed - a breach of Appendix H, Article 2.4.5.1 (b) of the FIA International Sporting Code - he was handed a grid drop of a further 3 places.
"I'm disappointed to receive the grid penalty because I did significantly lift off for the yellow flags," said the Mexican. "Tomorrow's race is going to be very long and the chance of a Safety Car is very high. It's one of those races where just getting to the end gives you a chance of points: anything can happen and we need to make the most of every opportunity."
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