Sergio Perez Gets Seven-Place Grid Penalty as Force India Score No Points in US Grand Prix

Force India driver Sergio Perez has been handed a seven-place grid penalty for the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend following his first-lap collision with Sauber's Adrian Sutil at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday in Austin.

The race went under safety car on the first lap when Perez collided with Sutil, knocking both drivers out. The crash was a major blow for Sauber, which hoped to capitalize on Sutil's first top-10 qualifying position of the season.

"He completely hit me. He ruined the race and I had to stop. My car was completely broken," Sutil said. (Also Read: Hamilton Thanks Fans as Title Looms)

Force India witnessed a terrible outing at the Circuit of The Americas as not only Perez but Nico Hulkenberg also retired early in the race. Hulkenberg pulled out in the 16th lap because of a mechanical problem.

The pointless result means Sahara Force India's chances of reducing the gap with McLaren are all but over with just two races to go in Brazil and season-ending Abu Dhabi.

Force India (123) are 24 points behind fifth-placed McLaren (147) in the championship standings and going by the string of unimpressive results in the last couple of races, the Silverstone-based outfit would need a Herculean effort to pip McLaren.

Meredes' Lewis Hamilton won his fifth race in-a-row, 10th of the season, and has take a 24-point lead over Mercedes team-mate and nearest rival Nico Rosberg.