Sergio Pérez's Monaco Grand Prix was marred by controversy as the driver of the No. 11 car was penalized for a false start, stripping Cadillac of their first points in the inaugural season. The penalty report stated that Pérez started from position 16 instead of 18, which is a significant advantage at Monaco. This mistake led to a pass-through penalty, which ultimately affected his chances of scoring points.
Pérez's teammate Valtteri Bottas also suffered a DNF, while Max Verstappen retired on the opening lap. As the race progressed, Pérez was running just outside the points but still had penalties to serve from multiple drivers. However, the penalty issued against him later in the race would prove costly.
The penalty report stated that video evidence showed clearly that Pérez's front right wheel was outside the starting box, and the standard penalty is applied. This decision has significant implications for Cadillac's chances of scoring points this season.
Pérez initially jumped the start, which momentarily made it look like he passed from 18th to 16th on the opening lap. However, this was later corrected when the penalty report stated that he started from position 16 instead of 18. This mistake led to a pass-through penalty, which ultimately affected his chances of scoring points.
The FIA penalty report also stated that competitors have the right to appeal certain decisions of the Stewards within the applicable time limits. However, this decision has already been made, and Pérez's position in the final standings is now 15th.
Pérez was initially running just outside the points but still had penalties to serve from multiple drivers. However, the penalty issued against him later in the race would prove costly, as it knocked him down to 15th place.
The penalty also affected Aston Martin's chances of scoring points, as Fernando Alonso and the team took the final point of the grand prix. This is the first point scored by Aston Martin this year as they struggle with their AMR26 car under new regulations.
Cadillac is now the only constructor without points in 2026, after Pérez's penalty stripped them of their first points. This setback will likely have significant implications for the team's chances of scoring points in future races.
The Monaco Grand Prix has been a challenging event for Cadillac this season, with the team struggling to find consistency. However, this penalty will only add to their woes, as they look to bounce back from this disappointing result.
