Sergio Perez Hit With Grid Penalty After Baku Qualifying Infringement

Sergio Perez has been handed a three-place grid penalty for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after stewards determined he unnecessarily impeded McLaren's Oscar Piastri during qualifying. Despite high expectations for Cadillac's performance in Baku, Perez failed to advance to Q2, finishing the session in P20.

Why it matters:

For Cadillac, establishing consistency in qualifying is a primary objective for the 2026 season. While Perez has a storied history of success on the streets of Baku, this latest setback highlights the ongoing struggle to translate practice pace into qualifying results, leaving the team to fight from the back of the grid.

The details:

• The Incident: The infringement occurred through Turns 18, 19, and 20. Perez was on a preparation lap weaving to warm his tires and ignored two warnings that Piastri was approaching on a flying lap.
• Stewards' Verdict: The stewards concluded that while the incident was not dangerous, Piastri was forced to lift, which was sufficient to establish an unnecessary impediment.
• Grid Position: Despite the three-place penalty, Perez retains P20. This is due to heavier grid penalties being served by Aston Martin drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll for engine changes.
• Other Penalties: Carlos Sainz, qualifying ninth for Williams, was also hit with a five-place grid penalty for failing to slow down under yellow flags.

What's next:

Perez will now rely on his experience as a two-time winner in Baku to navigate the field from the rear. The focus for Cadillac shifts to race strategy and reliability, aiming to salvage a points-scoring finish from a weekend that has seen significant qualifying struggles.