Sergio Perez received a formal warning by the FIA after Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, following comments he made once the race had finished.
The Mexican driver labelled the stewards as a “joke” and branded that they’d been “very bad” in 2023, after he lost a podium finish due to a five-second time penalty.
Perez was given a five-second time penalty during the race for colliding with Lando Norris at the tight Turn 6, whilst jostling for position.
The 33-year-old understeered wide as he tried to go up the inside of the McLaren driver, resulting in the contact.
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He was absolutely furious to have been penalised for the incident, which demoted him from second to fourth after the race had concluded, as both Charles Leclerc and George Russell were within five seconds of him.
“I cannot believe it. They have been very bad this year but this is a joke. That was really a joke,” Perez said over the radio.
His anger carried over into the media pen after the race where he criticised the sport for having commissioners” whose “arses” have never been in an F1 car.
Perez went as far as stating that when he was told about the penalty it made him “laugh”.
“We have commissioners who have never got their arses into an F1 car,” he told Canal+ after the race.
“It’s up to the two drivers to play the game. I blocked the rear wheels and it made me laugh to take the penalty. I didn’t understand why Leclerc gave me the place. Well, after that it wasn’t a big deal, apparently.”
Perez was summoned to the stewards after the race where he is said to have “expressed his regret” at what he said and that he didn’t mean to cause “offence to anyone”.
In response, the governing body reminded the Red Bull driver that either himself or a team representative can request an explanation from the stewards.
An official statement from the FIA read: “The stewards explained to the driver that they had no issue with someone disagreeing with their decisions, however comments that amount to personal insults are a breach of the International Sporting Code.
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“The driver made a genuine and sincere apology to each of the stewards and explained that he made the comments in the heat of the moment and did not consider the fact that they would be broadcast and the impact of that.
“He expressed his regret that his comments caused offence to anyone or harm to the sport, which he said he was concerned to avoid. The stewards also note that the driver is not known for making such comments and has always been extremely respectful in stewards hearings.
“He was also reminded that the stewards are always available to explain their decision when requested by a driver or team representative.”