2024-03-23 10:40:23
With first and third place, it initially looked like a strong qualifying for world champion Red Bull in Melbourne. But now a punishment comes in the way.
Sergio Pérez from world champion Red Bull received a grid penalty for the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday (from 5 a.m. in the live ticker on t-online). The Mexican, who actually qualified in third place with a lap time of 1:16.274, will be moved back three places with a penalty and will only start the race from sixth place.
The reason: Pérez stood in the way of German Nico Hülkenberg during his fast lap in qualifying. The German was eliminated in the first qualifying section and will only start the race from 16th place.
Those who benefited from Pérez’s penalty are Lando Norris in the McLaren, Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari and Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren, who each move up one place.
Pérez finished the first two races of the season in second place behind his teammate and world champion Max Verstappen. It remains to be seen whether this will be possible again in Australia. The Ferraris in particular seem to be able to keep up with the previously dominant Red Bulls much better this race weekend than in the first two races of the season.