After Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez is also acquitted – He delayed sufficiently at the yellow flag – Incorrect visor impairs in Q3
The numerous investigations following qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix did not stop at Sergio Perez. The Mexican was suspected of not delaying sufficiently under the yellow flag for George Russell’s slip in Q2. At the end of the investigation, however, he is cleared and gets to keep his third place on the grid.
“Comparing with his previous lap, he went off the gas 70 metres earlier, braked 50 metres earlier, and went through the corner 14 km/h slower. Therefore, the commissioners conclude that he behaved appropriately to the situation and take no further action,” the statement said.
Perez himself affirmed even before the verdict that he had decelerated sufficiently: “I was told on the radio before turn 11 that there was a yellow flag. That’s why I pulled back.” The announcement on the radio was, “Yellows, mate, yellows! [Yellow flags, mate, yellow flags!]”
“I lost half a second just braking,” the Red Bull driver continued. “After the corner they showed green and I finished the lap. In the end it was about eight tenths of a second slower. So all good. “
No strategy on the C5 tyre
After pole position in Jeddah and fastest time in Q2, third on the grid is something of a step back down to earth. Perez: “It was difficult all the way through qualifying. I never felt I had a real strategy with the tyres. I think they were very sensitive to the tarmac. “
“It’s the first time we’ve run the C5 tyre, so it was particularly difficult. Q1 and Q2 still went well. But Q3 with the red flag… We had too much fuel on board in the end, only to find out that a third lap was useless. I regret a bit that we went into Q3 without a tyre strategy. But third place is decent for tomorrow.”
Qualifying was run into the sunset. That also caused problems, but not in terms of tyres: “The sun went down quickly and it got much darker. We experimented with the visor on my first Q3 run. “
“It was completely dark at that point because the sun wasn’t out. When I went back out, the sun was back. That’s why I didn’t have the right sighting.” For Sunday, he expects a close race in the first places.
