Leclerc and Perez escape F1 penalty for Turn 3 tangle in Jeddah

The incident took place after the first red flag stoppage as the pair ran side-by-side at Turn 3.

Leclerc and Perez made contact, sending the Red Bull driver spinning, forcing him to retire from the race.

Their incident triggered contact between George Russell and Nikita Mazepin.

As Russell tried to avoid Perez’s spinning Red Bull, he braked suddenly, catching Mazepin out as he crashed into the back of the Williams driver, causing the second red flag of the day.

The stewards noted that they “reviewed the video evidence and determined that neither driver was predominantly to blame”.

Explaining the incident after the race, Perez said: “I think it was just a matter of how the corner was.

“I thought Charles wasn’t there because there wasn’t any more space, it turns out he was still there and, at the point, he became a passenger and there was nothing he could do or I could do differently, in that regard. And we tangled.”

Leclerc added: “I was on the left and I had not enough space, and I don’t think he saw me. I was very lucky to get out of it without big damage. Seventh place, not very happy.”