Bréaking: Red Bull F1 driver facing late DEMOTION at Qatar Grand Prix…Read more
Red Bull F1 driver facing late DEMOTION at Qatar Grand Prix
Red Bull driver Sergio Perez faces a late setback at the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race after his car was modified under parc ferme conditions, potentially violating F1 regulations.
Parc ferme rules, which prohibit teams from making changes to cars after a specific point in the race weekend, came into effect for the sprint weekend when cars left the pitlane during SQ1.
Perez and Williams driver Franco Colapinto reportedly breached these rules by making suspension setup changes to their cars.
An official report from FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer confirmed these modifications and stated that both drivers would need to start the sprint race from the pitlane if found in violation.
The matter has been referred to the stewards for final consideration.
The FIA document cites Article 40.9(b) of the 2024 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, which mandates a pitlane start for cars altered under parc ferme.
Should the stewards uphold the breach, both Perez and Colapinto will face an uphill challenge to score points, requiring a top-eight finish in the sprint race.
Perez, who had already struggled in SQ1 and qualified a disappointing P16, faces further challenges as he attempts to recover from the back of the pack.
Meanwhile, Colapinto, who was set to start last in P20, will hope that the adjustments to his Williams car can improve its competitiveness during the race.
This development compounds a difficult weekend for Red Bull in Qatar, as Perez’s struggles continue amid the tight regulations of a sprint weekend.
Both drivers now face significant obstacles to make an impact in the sprint race and secure any points.
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