Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Pérez has been issued a driving reprimand by Formula 1 stewards following his failure to adhere to mandatory track procedures at Turn 13 during qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix. The Mexican driver was called before the stewards after race officials determined he did not follow the specific instructions outlined in the weekend’s Competition Notes regarding the proper negotiation of the corner.
The stewards’ investigation, conducted under Article 12.2.1.i of the FIA International Sporting Code which addresses failure to follow officials’ directions, involved a comprehensive review of multiple data sources. Officials examined marshalling system information, video footage from various angles, timing data, and onboard camera feeds before reaching their conclusion regarding Car 11’s actions during the qualifying session.
Pérez defended his actions by explaining that he observed the vehicle behind him exhibiting “weaving” behavior, which led him to believe it was completing an out-lap rather than an active qualifying attempt. However, the trailing car was actually in the process of overtaking another competitor at the time. While the stewards acknowledged that Pérez’s interpretation “may have been a reasonable one” given the circumstances, they emphasized that this did not excuse his failure to comply with the explicit procedural requirements.
The Competition Notes specifically mandate that any driver who fails to properly navigate Turn 13 and passes completely to the left of the orange apex kerb must remain entirely left of the orange exit line and only rejoin the racing surface at the designated far end of the asphalt run-off area. The stewards concluded that Pérez did not execute this prescribed procedure correctly, constituting a clear breach of the regulations.
In delivering their verdict, the stewards recognized the existence of mitigating factors surrounding Pérez’s misunderstanding of the situation with the following car, but ruled these circumstances did not eliminate his responsibility to follow the established safety procedures. The reprimand marks the first such penalty for Pérez during the current Formula 1 season, representing a formal warning rather than a more severe sanction such as grid penalties or championship points deductions.