Hulkenberg: Perez ‘having Mexican siesta’ during qualifying

Nico Hulkenberg has suggested Sergio Perez was “having a Mexican siesta' during his impeding incident in Australia.

Perez was deemed guilty of blocking Hulkenberg early on during Q1 around the Albert Park Circuit.

The Stewards issued Perez a three-place grid penalty, dropping the Red Bull driver to sixth place on the grid.

“He was having a Mexican siesta, I think,” Hulkenberg told media including RacingNews365

“He wasn't looking in the mirror, the closing speed coming around Turn 12 is so quick now.

“If you're not paying attention enough it happens very easily and quickly. But of course it shouldn't happen.”

Hulkenberg rues spoiled lap

Hulkenberg failed to advance out of the first dropzone during Q1 and is set to take the start of the race from 16th.

Despite being held up by Perez on his first lap, Hulkenberg denied that the blocking incident was behind his early exit.

“The final run was not a clean lap, unfortunately,” Hulkenberg said.

“I was up on myself but then out of Turn 7 the wind somehow changed and I lost more than a tenth on the straight somehow compared to myself.

“Then something happened in Turn 9, I went in a little bit too fast, overloaded the front tyre and for the rest of the lap had a lot of understeer and lost all the laptime I had gained up until that point.

“Not the cleanest of quali days.”