Why did Pérez lose Cadillac’s first F1 point in Monaco?

F1 Grand Prix, GP Monaco, Monte Carlo Circuit

Sergio Pérez’s hard‑earned 10th place in Monaco — which would have delivered Cadillac’s first‑ever Formula 1 point — was wiped away after the stewards imposed a 10‑second time penalty for a grid‑position infringement at the final race restart.

Sunday’s Grand Prix around the streets of Monte Carlo was a survival exercise. Multiple crashes, repeated Safety Cars and a late red flag reshuffled the order several times, and Pérez navigated the chaos with measured precision.

When the race finally settled, he crossed the line in P10, a result that would have marked a historic milestone for Cadillac’s debut season. But the celebrations were short‑lived.

Following the race, the stewards opened an investigation into Car 11 for being incorrectly positioned in the starting box at the final restart. After reviewing marshalling data, video footage and in‑car camera angles, the stewards concluded: “Video evidence showed clearly that the front right wheel of Car 11 was outside the starting box. The standard penalty is applied.”

This constituted a breach of Article B5.11 of the FIA Formula 1 Regulations, which governs correct positioning at race starts and restarts.

Pérez and a team representative were heard, but the evidence left little room for interpretation. The stewards issued the standard 10‑second time penalty, applied after the race.

The penalty dropped Pérez from P10 to P15, making him the final classified finisher. What had briefly been a landmark moment for Cadillac — their first point in Formula 1 — evaporated in the stewarding room.

The decision document also reminded teams: “Competitors are reminded that they have the right to appeal certain decisions of the Stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 5 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules.”

At the time of publication, Cadillac had not indicated whether they would pursue an appeal.