Doc 25 - Decision - Car 23 - Alleged incident with car 11

2026 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX 27 - 29 March 2026 From The Stewards To The Team Manager, Atlassian Williams F1 Team Document 25 Date 27 March 2026 Time 15:25 The Stewards, having received a report from the Race Director, have considered the following matter and determine the following: No / Driver 23 - Alexander Albon Competitor Atlassian Williams F1 Team Time 12:22 Session Free Practice 1 Fact A collision occurred between Cars 23 and 11 at turn 16. Infringement Alleged breach of Appendix L, Chapter IV, Article 2 d) of the FIA International Sporting Code. Decision No further action. Reason The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 23 (Alexander Albon), the driver of Car 11 (Sergio Perez), team representatives and reviewed video, team radio and in-car video evidence. The Driver of Car 11 explained that he was on a race-run lap and was about to commence another. He had seen Car 23 some distance behind when he had exited turn 14. Car 23 was on an out lap and gained significanlly 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 predominatly to blame for it. The Stewards therefore determined to take no further action. 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, within the applicable time limits. The Stewards Decisions of the Stewards are taken independently of the FIA and are based solely on the relevant regulations, guidelines and evidence presented. Gerd Ennser Matthew Selley Zhou Xiaoxu Derek Warwick Kazuhiro Tsuge