Force India smells a rat, after Sergio Perez was penalised for a terrifying crash at the end of Sunday’s Canadian grand prix.<\/p>\n
As they tussled for fourth on the last lap, Williams’ Felipe Massa hit the back of Mexican Perez’s Force India, sending them both into the tyres at high speed.<\/p>\n
They were both transported to Montreal’s Sacre Coeur hospital for checks and later released with no injuries.<\/p>\n
Both Williams and Force India pointed the finger of blame.\u00a0 Williams’ post-race press statement said Perez “crashed into” Massa, but Force India claimed Perez was “the innocent victim”.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, the stewards sided with Massa, penalising Perez five places on the forthcoming Austrian grand prix grid.<\/p>\n
According to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, however, Force India suspects a conspiracy.<\/p>\n
That’s because, in addition to the four stewards in Montreal including former driver Derek Daly, also in the stewards room on Sunday was Adrian Fernandez.<\/p>\n
Former Indycar driver and Mexican Fernandez was Perez’s manager until two years ago, when they acrimoniously split.<\/p>\n
“The driver steward was Derek Daly,” said Force India team manager Andy Stevenson.\u00a0 “I don’t know why Fernandez was asked for his opinion.”<\/p>\n
FIA race director Charlie Whiting insisted: “From time to time, there are observers to the stewards.<\/p>\n
“Fernandez will be the driver representative in Russia, so we invited him here to have a look.”<\/p>\n
Whiting said any talk of an anti-Perez conspiracy is “nonsense”.<\/p>\n
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