Belgian GP: McLaren says rivals ganging up on Sergio Perez
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh believes Sergio Perez's Belgian Grand Prix penalty was the result of senior drivers 'ganging up' on the Mexican
Perez was hit with a drive-through penalty for forcing Romain Grosjean off the track at Les Combes after stewards decided he pushed the Lotus driver onto the rumble strip on entry, meaning he missed the corner.
The resulting penalty cost Perez points and Whitmarsh believes stewards have been swayed by Perez being victimised in drivers' briefings.
"The reality is that you get a young charger coming into the field and the older guys will try to gang up and make a scene in driver briefings," Whitmarsh told AUTOSPORT.
"They have done a bit of that [with Perez]. It shouldn't, but it clearly does make a difference.
"Ironically, later in the race there were two other worse examples that got no penalty - [Nico] Hulkenberg and [Jean-Eric] Vergne.
"It was a very hard penalty and disappointing."
PEREZ 'SHOULDN'T CHANGE'
Whitmarsh accepts that Perez might need to be cautious in battle in the coming races given he is under such scrutiny.
But he emphasised that he does not believe his driver was in the wrong and is keen for Perez to continue to race hard.
"When you are in his position you have got to be careful," said Whitmarsh.
"Even if you are doing what you think is OK, when you know you are under a bit of scrutiny you've got to watch it.
"If I thought that he was wrong I would go and box him over the head but he's got to go out there and race.
"He has to have the confidence and the belief that the team is supporting him and he's out there racing so we will be supporting him."
Grosjean insisted that Perez's actions had ultimately meant Felipe Massa beat him to seventh.
"I lost a position so it's never the best, it cost me maybe three or four seconds, something like that," said Grosjean.
"It would probably have been enough to keep Massa behind."
Belgian GP: Jenson Button says McLaren too nervous in Spa strategy
Mexican Grand Prix set for 2014 Formula 1 calendar slot
The “solemn promise” that cost quiet hero Brooks an F1 title
After two terrifying crashes, one of the best British racers of the 1950s retired before his career peaked. But that’s why GP Racing’s MAURICE HAMILTON was able to speak to Tony Brooks in 2014. Like his friend Stirling Moss, Brooks was regarded as one of the best drivers never to have won the world championship. Here, as our tribute to Brooks who died last month, is that interview in full
Inside the Faenza facility where AlphaTauri’s F1 pragmatic vision is realised
AlphaTauri’s mission in F1 is to sell clothes and train young drivers rather than win the championship – but you still need a cutting-edge factory to do that. Team boss Franz Tost takes GP Racing’s OLEG KARPOV on a guided tour of a facility that’s continuing to grow
Connecting two of Ferrari's favourite F1 sons
Gilles Villeneuve's exploits behind the wheel of a Ferrari made him a legend to the tifosi, even 40 years after his death. The team's current Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc enjoys a similar status, and recently got behind the wheel of a very special car from the French-Canadian’s career
How a 30cm metal wire triggered open warfare in the F1 paddock
Porpoising has become the key talking point during the 2022 Formula 1 season, as teams battle to come to terms with it. An FIA technical directive ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix and a second stay appearing on the Mercedes cars only served to create a bigger debate and raise tensions further
Does Verstappen have any weaknesses left?
Having extended his Formula 1 points lead with victory in Canada, Max Verstappen has raised his game further following his 2021 title triumph. Even on the days where Red Bull appears to be second best to Ferrari, Verstappen is getting the most out of the car in each race. So, does he have any weaknesses that his title rivals can exploit?
How F1's future fuels can shape the automotive sector
In 2026, Formula 1 plans to make the switch to a fully sustainable fuel, as the greater automotive world considers its own alternative propulsion methods. Biogasoline and e-fuels both have merit as 'drop-in' fuels but, equally, both have their shortcomings...
The breakthrough behind Sainz’s best weekend of F1 2022 so far
OPINION: Carlos Sainz came close to winning in Monaco but needed that race’s specific circumstances for his shot at a maiden Formula 1 victory to appear. Last weekend in Canada, he led the line for Ferrari in Charles Leclerc’s absence from the front. And there’s a key reason why Sainz has turned his 2022 form around
Canadian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
Plenty of high scores but just a single perfect 10 from the first Montreal race in three years, as Max Verstappen fended off late pressure from Carlos Sainz. Here’s Autosport’s assessment on the Formula 1 drivers from the Canadian Grand Prix