Avoiding Qatar grid penalty only positive from Perez Japan F1 weekend

A slow-starting Perez hit an early setback after being caught up in a Turn 1 collision with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, with prompted a pitstop for a new front wing.

After being handed a five-second penalty for overtaking Fernando Alonso ahead of his safety car stop, Perez then damaged another front wing – and collected another penalty – for ramming Haas’ Kevin Magnussen into the Turn 11 hairpin.

While his car was too damaged to continue at pace,…