SINGAPORE — Sergio Perez kept his win at the Singapore Grand Prix despite breaking car safety regulations three times during the race and getting a five-second penalty.
Managers investigated Perez for falling more than ten cars behind the safety car during the two safety car phases of the race. He was first reprimanded for being under the first safety car, warned in real time for a second incident under the second safety car, and then given a 5-second penalty when he did it the first time. second under the second safety car.
The five-second penalty, added to his race results, meant he retained the lead in the final standings as he finished the race 7.5 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc in second place. second place, which means an adjusted win of 2.5 seconds.
Perez said he was unable to keep up with the vehicle safely in wet conditions, which management noted and attributed to it as a factor in the reason for the first reprimand and the penalty for the second.
Speaking after the race but before the manager’s decision, Perez told the media: “I’m pretty confident there’s nothing to it because there’s been a bit of miscommunication with them. In places where I can keep up , [the safety car] I was very slow and then when I couldn’t he was fast.
“These conditions are not normal and especially the last area it is very complicated. I think the management has understood my explanation and is satisfied with it.”
The manager’s statement for the reprimand said: “Vehicle 11 was the lead vehicle in lap 10. It was acknowledged that while the safety car’s lights were on, Perez failed to hold within 10 car lengths of safety. completely between the exit of the turn 13 years old and turning 14 years old.
“When asked during the hearing, Perez said that the conditions were very wet and it was difficult to follow the car safely with little heat in his tires and brakes.
“Although the track was wet in some parts, we do not accept that such conditions are impossible or dangerous for Perez to maintain the required car length gap of less than 10.
“However, we have taken into account the wet conditions and difficulties highlighted by Perez as extenuating circumstances for this incident and, therefore, determined that a reprimand should be imposed.”
As for the penalty, the managers gave the following reasons, including that Perez was cautioned by the race director for a second infraction.
“Car 11 was the lead car in lap 36 for the second safest car time in the race,” the manager’s statement said. “Admittedly, while the safety vehicle lights remained on, PER failed to secure the vehicle within 10 safety vehicle lengths between the ages of 13 and 14.
“This happened despite the fact that the Race Director had issued a warning to the team that the PER was not honoring the 10-car length rule between turns 9 and 10. The team passed that warning on to PER.
“We refer to Document 56, whereby we issued a reprimand to PER for a similar rule violation during the first safety car deployment in the race.
“As this is the second violation of Article 55.10 of the PER in the race and following a quick warning from the Race Director, we have decided to impose a 5th penalty on PER.”
Managers’ decisions remind competitors of their right to appeal.
