Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris both delivered short responses to Sergio Perez’s “interesting” collision with Kevin Magnussen at the Japanese Grand Prix, which led to the Red Bull driver’s first retirement of the race.
It was a day to forget in Suzuka for Perez, as his race got off to the worst start possible on the run into the opening corner.
Starting from fifth, Perez was unfortunate to collide with Carlos Sainz, something which then sent the Mexican into the side of Lewis Hamilton.
Perez’s front wing endplate broke as a result of the initial collision, causing him to pit for repairs at the end of the first lap.
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Due to the debris on the circuit, a Safety Car was summoned before the first lap concluded, something which appeared to catch out Perez.
Under Safety Car conditions, overtaking isn’t allowed, unless authorised by the race director.
When entering the pits, Perez overtook Lance Stroll, resulting in a five-second time penalty.
He served this penalty not that long later, as he was forced to pit again for yet another front wing, following a lazy collision with Magnussen.
Perez attempted a ridiculously late divebomb on the Haas driver at Turn 11, which ended with the Mexican going straight into the side of the Danish driver, causing him to spin.
This incident was replayed after the race in the cooldown room, where race winner Max Verstappen and podium finishers Norris and Piastri watched on.
“Ah nice,” Piastri said, whilst watching the replay of Perez’s accident with Magnussen.
Norris, on the other hand, simply labelled the collision as “interesting”.
The incident with Magnussen saw Perez slapped with a second five-second time penalty, whilst he served the first when he pitted for further repairs.
After being fitted with another front wing, Red Bull called him back into the pits to retire from the race.
Several laps later though, the 33-year-old was back out on track, having been granted permission by the FIA to rejoin.
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Red Bull wanted Perez back in the race so he could serve his second time penalty, to avoid it carrying over into the Qatar Grand Prix next month.
Once he’d served the penalty, Red Bull called Perez back into the pits to retire from the race.
If two time penalties weren’t enough, Checo also had four points added to his super licence, taking his tally over the last 12 months to seven.