- Force India
FIA to review Perez's grid penalty
Sergio Perez's five-place grid penalty at this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix could be revised after Force India requested the stewards review "new elements" about his accident with Felipe Massa in Canada.
Perez was not able to attend the original stewards' meeting in Canada but will attend a meeting on Friday morning to review the penalty. Because it is not possible to get the Canadian Grand Prix stewards to meet at the Red Bull Ring, the Austrian Grand Prix stewards will hear the new evidence from Force India.
"We will get the opportunity tomorrow with the FIA to review the accident once again," Perez said. "We believe we have enough evidence to prove I did nothing wrong."
An FIA statement confirmed that Force India had asked for the decision to be reviewed.
"The FIA has received a request from Sahara Force India F1 Team, the entrant of Car 11, requesting a review of the Stewards' Decision (Document 44 of June 8, 2014) in accordance with Article 13.10 of the FIA International Sporting Code. The request refers to the emergence of 'new elements'.
"The FIA has been advised that it is physically impossible for the Stewards of the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix to process this request prior to the Austrian Grand Prix and in accordance with Article 13.10.1 of the Code, has designated the Stewards of the 2014 Austrian Grand Prix to:
"1. Determine as to whether or not a new element exists under Article 13.10.2 of the Code; and
"2. If such an element is determined to exist, convene a new hearing to consider any such new element(s).
"In order to determine whether or not a new element exists the Stewards will convene at 09:00 hrs on Friday June 20, 2014. The driver and team representative of Car 11 are required to attend to present their case as to the existence of any new element(s).
"In the event that the Stewards decide, in accordance with Article 13.10.1 of the Code, that a new element(s) exists, a hearing will be convened at 1600 hours on Friday June 20, 2014. The drivers and team representatives of Car 11 and Car 19 (Felipe Massa - Williams Martini Racing), will be required at this hearing."
Debate over the incident lingered long into the week following the Canadian Grand Prix, with both drivers taking to social media to try to prove their innocence.
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