Perez slapped with gearbox change penalty

Sergio Perez will lose his front row grid slot and drop five places for the European GP as he needed a new gearbox following his FP3 shunt.

Perez hit the wall at Turn 15 as the chequered flag was waved to signal the end of the session.

The crash damaged the rear left of his VJM09 and necessitated a gearbox change.

Force India were able to repair the car in time for qualifying with Perez finishing the evening P2.

However, the mandatory five-place grid drop means he will start the race seventh on the grid.