(Motorsports news) Perez was given a five-second penalty for colliding with Lando Norris of McLaren as the British driver attempted to pass him. The Red Bull driver claimed Norris was at fault because he thought he was in the lead, but Norris countered that he was deliberately creating space for Perez to pass, even though the Mexican driver still collided with him.
Perez, who started the race in second place but finished in fourth, was furiously opposed to the penalty at the time. He further attacked the stewards on the team radio after crossing the finish line, stating, “Man, the stewards are a joke.” It’s unbelievable to me. This is a joke, but they’ve been awful this year. That was genuinely humorous.”
Perez was called by the stewards for his remarks, and after he apologized, they decided to issue a formal warning. The stewards stated in their decision that while they accept public criticism, they believed Perez had gone too far in making “personal insults,” in violation of Article 12.2.1 k) of the International Sporting Code.
“The Stewards explained to the driver that they had no issue with someone disagreeing with their decisions, however comments that amount to personal insults are a breach of the International Sporting Code,” the statement read.
“The Stewards observe that, given that they were the focus of the radio utterances, they are clearly in a conflict of interest in this case, and that this should typically be forwarded to the following panel of Stewards. But since this is the season’s last event, it was necessary to address the issue here. “The driver expressed his heartfelt regret to each of the Stewards, saying that he had made the remarks in the heat of the moment and had not realized they would be aired.
“He claimed he was worried to prevent offending anyone or hurting the sport with his remarks, and he expressed regret for both. The Stewards acknowledge his remarks and extend their condolences. “The Stewards also note that the driver is not known for making such comments and has always been extremely respectful in Stewards hearings.”
The stewards said that although Perez was still against their choice to punish him, he could now see things from their point of view.
