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Perez starts from pits GP Qatar 2023

Perez must start from the pits after sustaining damage in crash with Ocon

8 October 2023 at 15:00
Last update 8 October 2023 at 16:28
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  • Toby McLuskie

Sergio Perez will have to start the Qatar Grand Prix from the pit lane. His RB19 was so badly damaged after crashing with Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg in the sprint race that a second chassis had to be fitted. Red Bull Racing was therefore forced to break the parc fermé rules.

More bad luck for Perez in Qatar

Red Bull went to work on repairs to Perez's car after the sprint race. This involved using a spare chassis and a new PU. As this could not be done under the supervision of the FIA, it is considered to be the team's use of a 'third' car.

An official verdict from the stewards is yet to come, but as Perez's car was worked on while the parc fermé was active, he will have to start from the pit lane anyway. A ten-second time penalty may be added: the same thing happened to Logan Sargeant earlier, which resulted in a penalty for the Williams driver.