Sergio Perez receives three-place Azerbaijan Grand Prix grid penalty after impeding Oscar Piastri in Qualifying
Image accompanying the official F1 announcement.Sergio Perez has been given a three-place grid penalty for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after stewards ruled he impeded Oscar Piastri in qualifying. The decision was confirmed on 2026-09-25 after an investigation into an on-track incident following the session.
Stewards found Perez blocked Piastri through Turns 18, 19 and 20 while Piastri was on a flying lap. Perez was on a preparation lap and weaving to warm his tyres, and stewards said he received two warnings that Piastri was approaching but did not manage the lap in line with specific traffic-management instructions.
The stewards said Piastri had to lift because of Perez, even though Piastri did not believe he lost significant lap time overall. After reviewing the evidence and hearing from both drivers, they concluded the incident was not dangerous but said the need for Piastri to lift was enough to establish unnecessary impeding.
Perez will serve the three-place penalty for Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. His qualifying result remains P20. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin are also set to take larger grid penalties because of engine changes.
Carlos Sainz of Williams, who qualified ninth, was given a five-place grid penalty for failing to slow for yellow flags. The penalties alter the starting order ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Reporting source: F1 official update