Sergio Perez is set to lose five places on the grid for Sunday’s afternoon’s 2016 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe after Force India changed the gearbox on his car, which was damaged in the Mexican’s FP3 accident on Saturday.
Perez crashed heavily at the end of the final practice session, having lost control of the rear end of his VJM09 at Turn 15, in a near carbon copy of what happened to Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo on Friday at the new Baku City Circuit.
With his previous gearbox having not completed the six consecutive events required by the regulations, the resulting penalty means Perez is expected to drop five places on wherever he qualifies in Azerbaijan.
Perez finished sixth fastest in FP3, three places down on team mate Nico Hulkenberg.
