Sergio Perez receives three-place Azerbaijan Grand Prix grid penalty after impeding Oscar Piastri in Qualifying

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Sergio Perez has been handed a three-place grid penalty for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after the stewards determined he impeded Oscar Piastri during Qualifying. The penalty was confirmed by the race stewards on 2026-09-25, following an investigation into an on-track incident after the session.

According to the stewards’ findings, Perez blocked Piastri in the final part of the lap through Turns 18, 19 and 20 while Piastri was on a flying lap. The incident occurred as Perez was on a preparation lap, weaving to warm his tyres, and the stewards recorded that Perez had received two warnings of Piastri approaching but did not manage his preparation lap in line with the specific traffic-management instructions.

The stewards stated that Piastri had to lift because of Perez, even though he did not believe he lost significant lap time overall. They reviewed the evidence and heard both drivers, and concluded the incident was not dangerous; however, they added that the fact Piastri was required to lift was sufficient to establish that he had been unnecessarily impeded.

As a result, Perez will take a three-place grid penalty for Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The stewards’ decision does not change his Qualifying finishing position of P20 in the report provided, with the article noting that Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin are set to receive larger grid penalties due to engine changes.

Further down the field, Carlos Sainz of Williams—who qualified ninth—was given a five-place grid penalty for a failure to slow for yellow flags. The penalties mean both drivers will face altered starting positions ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.