Sergio Perez has criticised the stewards’ decision to hꦅand him a five-second penalty for failing to adhere to blue flags in the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix.

Perez was given a five-second penalty after it was deemed he impeded eventual race🥀 winner Lewis Hamilton while being lapped.

The Mexican was shown blue flags at Turn 10 and remained ahead of the Mercedes driver until Turn 1 on the following 🌃lap.

The Racing 🃏Point driver described the penalty ✨as “very unfair” and said it would have been dangerous to have let Hamilton through at the final sector chicane.

"I don't understand where I should have moved, Hamilton got to me very late in the lap and then in the final sector it is very tight, very narrow, so I don't have anywhere [to go]," Peꦜrez said. It would have been very unsafe for me to do something thereꦑ but still I got the penalty. I feel it was very unfair but it is how it is.

"I am happy🎉 that at least we didn't lose out with the points because Lance got them but I think the ♏penalty was harsh. I got the call out of [Turn] nine, and into [Turn] 10 Lewis was very fast so the first opportunity I thought I had was Turn 1 because the track is very narrow and very tight so it can only go badly.

"So I t🌼hought he was only going to lose more time if I give the position there rather than waiting and giving him the position into Turn 1.I got the penalty so I don't know if something changed while I was not here but I have seen a lot worse than that and people get away with it."

Perez finished fourth but the penalty dropped him to fifth - promoting team-mateꦓ Stroll ahead of🌃 him.

Racing Point now sits third in the constructors’ c♌hampionship ahead of McLaren and despite his penalty, Perez was pleased with the turn of pace it showed in Barcelona.

"I think it was for the team and I am very happy with the result we got today as it was a lot of points for the team," Perez added. "I think they have done a great job with the strategy as well making the one-stop work wasn't an issue so I am pleased with tha𒐪t."