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SPIELBERG, Austria - Force India has presented new evidence to Formula 1's governing body in a bid to have Sergio Perez's five-place grid penalty, incurred at the 2014 Canadian GP and to be implemented at the Austrian race on June 22, to be reversed.
Perez picked up the punishment after he and Williams’ Felipe Massa collided at the 2014 Canadian GP while disputing fourth place (see video below) into the last lap. Perez’s car was hit from behind by Massa.
VIDEO: Massa, Perez crash at 2014 Canadian GP
Stewards ruled that Perez changed his racing line, sending both cars into the barriers, but Force India believes it has new evidence and said Perez and the team would meet Austrian stewards, among them nine-times Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen today (June 20 2014) to discuss the situation.
If the stewards accept Force India has a case then they will convene for a hearing after Friday's second practice session.
PEREZ BLAMES MASSA
The team did not elaborate on the "evidence" but media reports indicated that Perez had not been questioned by the Canadian stewards after the crash because he was still in hospital.
Perez blamed Massa. He said he was following the same lines and braking patterns as on previous laps: "I watched several replays of the incident and I can't help but notice how Felipe turns right just before he hits me. I can only think he must have changed his mind and wanted to rejoin the racing line.
"His misjudgement cost us a lot of points."
Massa hit back on Thursday (June 19) when he told reporters Perez could no longer be trusted on the track: "I will think twice (before trying to pass). I believed he would not move his car... but you cannot believe when it's somebody who's causing so many problems.
"I will not trust him any more," he added, comparing the Force India driver's behaviour to that of Romain Grosjean in 2012. Grosjean was banned for a race in 2012 after a series of incidents.
Massa said: "If I had made the mistake I would have been the first one to say 'I'm sorry', like I always do. He doesn't think the same way and I'm sorry for him and I hope he learns, otherwise he will pay more penalties infuture.”
WATCH THE CRASH:
Who do think will win the 2014 Austrian GP? Vote for your favourite driver in our homepage voting booth!
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 Austrian GP
Perez picked up the punishment after he and Williams’ Felipe Massa collided at the 2014 Canadian GP while disputing fourth place (see video below) into the last lap. Perez’s car was hit from behind by Massa.
VIDEO: Massa, Perez crash at 2014 Canadian GP
Stewards ruled that Perez changed his racing line, sending both cars into the barriers, but Force India believes it has new evidence and said Perez and the team would meet Austrian stewards, among them nine-times Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen today (June 20 2014) to discuss the situation.
If the stewards accept Force India has a case then they will convene for a hearing after Friday's second practice session.
PEREZ BLAMES MASSA
The team did not elaborate on the "evidence" but media reports indicated that Perez had not been questioned by the Canadian stewards after the crash because he was still in hospital.
Perez blamed Massa. He said he was following the same lines and braking patterns as on previous laps: "I watched several replays of the incident and I can't help but notice how Felipe turns right just before he hits me. I can only think he must have changed his mind and wanted to rejoin the racing line.
"His misjudgement cost us a lot of points."
Massa hit back on Thursday (June 19) when he told reporters Perez could no longer be trusted on the track: "I will think twice (before trying to pass). I believed he would not move his car... but you cannot believe when it's somebody who's causing so many problems.
"I will not trust him any more," he added, comparing the Force India driver's behaviour to that of Romain Grosjean in 2012. Grosjean was banned for a race in 2012 after a series of incidents.
Massa said: "If I had made the mistake I would have been the first one to say 'I'm sorry', like I always do. He doesn't think the same way and I'm sorry for him and I hope he learns, otherwise he will pay more penalties infuture.”
WATCH THE CRASH:
Who do think will win the 2014 Austrian GP? Vote for your favourite driver in our homepage voting booth!
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 Austrian GP
