Perez hits out at “very unfair” F1 penalty for ignoring blue flags

Sergio Perez has criticised the stewards’ decision to hand him a five-second penalty for failing to adhere to blue flags in the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix.

Perez was given a five-second penalty after it was deemed he impeded eventual race winner Lewis Hamilton while being lapped.

The Mexican was shown blue flags at Turn 10 and remained ahead of the Mercedes driver until Turn 1 on the following lap.

The Racing Point driver described the penalty as “very unfair” and said it would have been dangerous to have let Hamilton through at the final sector chicane.

"I don't understand where I should have moved, Hamilton got to me very late in the lap and then in the final sector it is very tight, very narrow, so I don't have anywhere [to go]," Perez said. It would have been very unsafe for me to do something there but still I got the penalty. I feel it was very unfair but it is how it is.

"I am happy that at least we didn't lose out with the points because Lance got them but I think the penalty was harsh. I got the call out of [Turn] nine, and into [Turn] 10 Lewis was very fast so the first opportunity I thought I had was Turn 1 because the track is very narrow and very tight so it can only go badly.

"So I thought he was only going to lose more time if I give the position there rather than waiting and giving him the position into Turn 1.I got the penalty so I don't know if something changed while I was not here but I have seen a lot worse than that and people get away with it."

Perez finished fourth but the penalty dropped him to fifth - promoting team-mate Stroll ahead of him.

Racing Point now sits third in the constructors’ championship ahead of McLaren and despite his penalty, Perez was pleased with the turn of pace it showed in Barcelona.

"I think it was for the team and I am very happy with the result we got today as it was a lot of points for the team," Perez added. "I think they have done a great job with the strategy as well making the one-stop work wasn't an issue so I am pleased with that."