Points for Perez despite crashing out in Japan

Jamie Woodhouse
Sergio Perez

Sergio Perez is expected to return to action in Barcelona

Due to a glitch in the timing system, Sergio Perez has scored points at the Japanese GP despite crashing out.

The SportPesa Racing Point driver was in a battle over P8 with Pierre Gasly when the pair made contact at Turn 1.

Perez was sent into the barriers, thus retiring from the race on the final lap, promoting Gasly to P8.

But, the timing system had an afternoon to forget, displaying the chequered flag board a lap early as race leader Valtteri Bottas began his 53rd and last tour of the Suzuka circuit.

Since both Perez and Gasly had already been lapped by the Finn, that meant that the results were classified after 52 laps, meaning Perez finished P9 where he had been running on that lap in pursuit of Gasly.

Gasly remains P8, while Nico Hulkenberg is classified P10. Perez’s team-mate Lance Stroll therefore drops to P11 and out of the points.

Toro Rosso are now three points ahead of SportPesa Racing Point in P6 in the Constructors’ standings.

Follow us on Twitter @Planet_F1 and like our Facebook page.