The Mercedes driver looked untouchable as he led the first Formula 1 race in the Gulf state from start to finish, with Red Bull unable to match the seven-time world champion’s pace. Perez picked up another 5s time penalty but did find a way past Ricciardo, to allow him to gain time with his 10s of penalties.Sir Lewis Hamilton closed the gap in the Drivers’ Championship to Formula 1 title rival Max Verstappen to just four points after a supreme victory at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix.
Perez "not comfortable with myself" after Leclerc F1 incidents.That resulted in a 5s time penalty for Perez.
At Turn 4, Leclerc attacked Perez around the outside and he hit him twice, sending the Ferrari into the gravel. The real battle as the race entered its second half was Gasly versus Ricciardo, Perez and Leclerc. Norris passed Hamilton for third at Turn 6 on Lap 54, prompting Hamilton to make a second pitstop. He then received a team order, allowing him to pass Hamilton uncontested on Lap 52.
Initially he was told not to pass Hamilton, but with Norris closing on him, Bottas was told he was free to race his teammate. Hamilton picked up damage on his left-rear corner, which allowed Bottas to close. Hamilton pitted a lap later, with Verstappen responding on the following tour and he rejoined over 13s ahead in the lead. Norris and Bottas pitted together on Lap 31, Bottas moving ahead as Norris had to serve his 5s time penalty.
Norris frustrated by F1 penalty for defending ‘stupid’ Perez move.It took Hamilton 10 laps to find a way past, just as Norris received a 5s penalty from the stewards for his earlier incident with Perez. Hamilton caught Norris, attacking from Lap 10 as Verstappen pulled 5s clear. Perez ran wide on the exit and failed to get ahead, but he tried again on the outside at Turn 4 where Lando stood firm in his defence and Sergio ran wide into the gravel, sending him tumbling to 10 th.īehind them, the Mercedes duo briefly swapped places but Hamilton reestablished his position, now up to third. Further back, Esteban Ocon was sandwiched by Mick Schumacher and Antonio Giovinazzi at Turn 3, damaging his right-front suspension and bringing out the safety car to recover his stranded Alpine.Īt the restart, Perez attacked Norris at Turn 1. From pole position, Verstappen led Norris, Perez, Hamilton and Bottas.