FIA determine cause of clumsy Alex Albon and Sergio Perez crash

Alex Albon has escaped repercussions for crashing into Sergio Perez during Free Practice 1 at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Late on at Suzuka, Albon clattered into the side of Perez's Cadillac machine at the final chicane, with the six-time grand prix winner not aware of the Thai driver's presence.

Albon was spun around by the impact, with the right-hand side of the floor of Perez's car being destroyed in the impact. 

After the session, the incident was upgraded to a stewards' investigation, which ultimately deemed that Albon would not have further action taken against him.

The reason for the lack of punishment for the Williams driver was due to Perez not being informed by his team that Albon was approaching, with it being put down to a misunderstanding.

"The Driver of Car 11 explained that he was on a race-run lap and was about to commence another," the official stewards' report read. "He had seen Car 23 some distance behind when he had exited turn 14.

"Car 23 was on an out lap and gained significantly on Car 11 through turn 15 and on the approach to turn 16. Car 23 moved to overtake Car 11 on the inside at turn 16 and a collision occurred.

"The Driver of Car 11 said that he did not see Car 23, his virtual mirror was not working and he had not received any warning from his team of Car 23’s approach. This was confirmed by his team radio. The team explained that they had assumed that Car 23 would hold position behind Car 11 and had not noticed the extent to which Car 23 had gained on Car 11 and for that reason did not warn the Driver of Car 11.

"The Driver of Car 23 said that he believed from the wide line taken by Car 11 at the entry to turn 16 that Car 11 was letting him through.

"Both Drivers were surprised by the closing speeds. The collision was therefore the result of a misunderstanding contributed to by a lack of communication by the team to the Driver of Car 11.

"Both Drivers accepted that neither of them was wholly or predominantly to blame for it. The Stewards therefore determined to take no further action."