F1 radio issue a factor as Perez and Ocon avoid penalty for clash

Red Bull F1 driver Sergio Perez and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon have avoided any penalty after an “unfortunate miscommunication of timing” led to their FP1 collision at Imola.
Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull Racing RB16B.
Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull Racing RB16B.
© xpbimages.com

Red Bull Formula 1 driver Sergio Perez and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon have avoided any penalty after an 🐲“unfortunat🦂e miscommunication of timing” led to their FP1 collision at Imola.

Both drivers were summoned to the stewards after an unseen clash in o🌜pening practice for this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, but the FIA took no further action over the incident.

An F1 data problem that affected the world TV feed meant that no replays or onboard footage of the collision were shown, but contact was made be🐻tween the right front and left rear of Ocon and Perez.

Remote video URL

Both Perez and Ocon agreed that neithe♉r driver was to blame for the accident, while the stewards also noted that radio communication problems experienced by the teams throughout first practice did not help.

Follo꧟wing the hearing, th🌠e stewards account read: "Ocon slowed before Turn 5 in order to let Perez by, as well as moving entirely to the inside of the turn. Perez was on a fast lap. The two cars reached the apex at the same time, and just barely touched wheels.

— Formula 1 (@F1)

F1’s technical difficulties had a direct effect on data for the teams and radio communications, and Ferrari team principal Mattia Bino🦩tto said he hopes the “big problem” will be rectified in time for FP2.

“Certainly it was ♉a big problem,” he explained. “I don’t know if all the teams had exactly the same problems but for us it was very difficult, especially on Charles [Leclerc], there was no way of communicating to him - so we aborted the first run.

“It’s difficult because you cannot give him advice on cars around, so there can be impeding situations. It was very difficult as well for the drivers to know who is coming b🦹ehind.

“If you have any problems, you don’t know how to react or to communicate. So those types of problems are serious, we know it wasn’t voluntary by F1 ⛎but hopefully it will be addressed and sorted out for FP2 because communicating with the drivers from the pits is important for safety, functionality and reliability.”

Read More