F1 News: Sergio Perez Summoned By FIA After Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Perez made comments that are considered a breach of the International Sporting Code.

Red Bull driver Sergio Perez was summoned by the FIA for his comments on the race stewards during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He called them a "joke" and "very bad" over team radio, which is considered a breach of the International Sporting Code.

Perez finished second at the chequered flag in the season finale but was pushed down two places to fourth due to a five-second penalty he earned for making contact with Lando Norris's McLaren on Lap 47 at the Yas Marina circuit. 

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The position would have dropped further down if it wasn't for Charles Leclerc, who allowed Perez to go past and let Red Bull claim a 1-2 finish in a bid to limit George Russell's points run. But, the attempt failed and Ferrari was beaten by Mercedes in the Constructors Championship by just 3 points. 

However, after the race concluded, Perez took a jibe at the stewards over the team radio. He said:

"The stewards are a joke, man. I cannot believe it.

"They have been very bad this year, but this is a joke. That was really a joke."

Consequently, the 33-year-old driver was summoned by the governing body for an alleged breach of the International Sporting Code. Through his comments, he potentially showed "misconduct towards licence-holders, officials, officers or members of staff of the staff of the FIA and members of the staff of the organizer or promoter".

During the post-race interview, Perez told the media that he was fully alongside Lando Norris when they collided through Turns 6 and seven. He said:

“We ended up contacting, which was unfortunate.

“But to make contact you require both partners. Lando also had some responsibility in that because he turned into me as if there was no-one there.

“We ended up making contact tyre-to-tyre. I was fully alongside him. He cut the corner.

“He gained time and I still had the penalty.

“I honestly don't agree with the decision but as a driver there is nothing you can do.

“In my opinion, it was a 50-50 but he didn't end up losing anything. If anything, he gained. Hard to understand why I got the penalty if I'm totally honest.”

While handing the 5-second penalty to the Mexican driver, the stewards reasoned:

“Coming into Turn 6, notwithstanding that [Perez] was alongside [Norris], the driver of Car 11 [Perez] dived in late, missed the apex of the corner and understeered towards the outside of the corner colliding with [Norris].”