Sergio Perez was reprimanded by the stewards at the Canadian Grand Prix for impeding Fernando Alonso during Q1.
The Cadillac driver ultimately qualified P20 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, just behind the Aston Martin driver, but was called before the officials in Montreal after blocking the two-time F1 drivers’ champion heading into the lap-ending chicane during the grid-setting session.
However, the officials decided against punishing the six-time grand prix winner, due to mitigating circumstances, after the Mexican explained he falsely believed Alonso to be weaving, as can be expected on a cool-down lap.
That was not the case, with the 43-year-old instead on a push lap.
The stewards explained their reasoning in the official decision document.
“The Stewards heard from the driver and the team representative and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video, timing and in-car video evidence,” the panel stated.
“The driver stated that he saw the car behind weaving and assumed it was on an out lap when, in fact, that car was overtaking another car.
“However, whilst this may have been a reasonable assumption, the driver still failed to comply with the Competition Notes. Considering the mitigating circumstances, the penalty of a Reprimand is imposed on the driver.”
It is Perez’s first reprimand of the 2026 F1 season.
