The Sergio Perez Lunge Club

Sergio Perez are getting some heat after recent incidents // Red Bull Content Pool, Getty Images

Sergio Perez, popularly known as "Checo," has once again become the center of controversy following two recent incidents during the Formula 1 races in Singapore and Japan.

Alex Albon and Kevin Magnussen, who fell victim to Perez's aggressive driving, have expressed their concerns over the apparent leniency of the penalties awarded.

At the Marina Bay circuit in Singapore, Albon was on course for a top ten finish when he was bumped off by Perez in a move that can best be described as bold. The aftermath of this collision saw Albon tumble down the grid, finishing just outside the points in P11. While Perez was penalized with a five-second addition to his race time, it didn't have any significant impact, given that he still ended up in P8.

A similar scenario unfolded at the Japanese GP. Perez made a daring move on Kevin Magnussen, diving inside him at a hairpin, ultimately causing contact with the rear of Magnussen's Haas car. This collision resulted in a spin that jeopardized the races for both drivers.

The response to Perez's action in Japan was another five-second penalty. But, in an unusual series of events, Perez's car was retired, repaired by the Red Bull team, and then brought back onto the circuit merely to serve the penalty. This was done to ensure that the penalty would not spill over to the upcoming race in Qatar.

Sergio Perez’ opponents feel like these bowling pins on track // Red Bull Content Pool, Getty Images

Albon is among those voicing the need for stricter penalties, especially given the repetitive nature of these incidents. Reflecting on the situations, he noted, “The problem for me is in Turn 11, he did the same move again to me on track today, and I avoided it, and then he did it again to Kevin. I was behind it, so I had the best view of everyone. And so clearly it’s not really teaching the drivers anything because then… the penalties aren’t strict enough. That’s two in two races in a row.”