Sergio Perez says he “expected a bit more from the stewards” after receiving a time penalty at Formula 1’s Italian Grand Prix.
Perez held fourth at the restart and tried to overhaul Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc through the second chicane.
Perez tried to go around the outside of Leclerc but cut the chicane and emerged from the complex ahead of the Ferrari driver.
Perez did not give the position back and stewards deemed that he “gained a lasting advantage” by cutting the corner.
The consequent five-second time penalty demoted Perez from his on-the-road position of third to fifth.
“It was a real shame we didn’t get the podium, we got it on track but we lost it later on,” he said.
“To be honest we expected a bit more from the stewards in the sense I had nowhere to go, it was either cutting the corner or having contact with Charles.
“I know that’s the rule but as a team we thought probably they can be a bit more sensible here and have a wider view but it didn’t happen.”
Team boss Christian Horner also expressed frustration at the situation.
“That was tough because we were expecting a call from the stewards to say ‘give it back’, the call didn’t come, then when the penalty comes up, the gap is opening.
“That was tough for him, he drove a good race, third on the road and fifth overall, so it was tough for him.”
I think the stewards are simply fed up listening to whinger spice and the rest of the team bending their ear at every opportunity; and to claim they can keep an unfairly-gained place because “No-one asked them to give it up” is not only unsporting but an insult to every other team.
They need to learn to STFU and adhere to the same standards as everyone else.
Sorry checo. Cutting a chicane like that is ALWAYS a penalty. I thought you would be more sensible.
Genuine question. How is one supposed to overtake at a chicane? If one is attacking and alongside around the outside of the first part of the chicane it seems that the defending driver just has to close the apex of the second part leaving the attacking driver to bail out across the inside and have to give the place back or take a penalty, or crash, and be judged to be at fault for not bailing out.