MOSCOW, March 23 Mexican Red Bull pilot Sergio Perez received a penalty for blocking German Nico Hulkenberg from Haas and dropped to sixth place in qualifying for the third stage of Formula 1 — the Australian Grand Prix, according to the competition page on the social network X.
The incident occurred at the thirteenth turn in qualification time. The stewards concluded that Red Bull warned Perez too late about the approach of Hulkenberg, who as a result created an undue difficulty for his opponent.
«Sergio Perez will start the Australian Grand Prix from sixth position as a result of receiving a three-position penalty for interfering with Nico Hulkenberg,» the report said.
Initially, Perez showed the third time in qualifying, losing to teammate Max Verstappen from the Netherlands and the Spanish Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz. The Mexican's place in third position on the grid will be taken by British McLaren driver Lando Norris.
The Australian Grand Prix race will take place on Sunday.