Stewards at the Austrian GP have upheld Sergio Perez's grid penalty

Stewards at the Austrian GP have upheld the five-place grid penalty handed to Sergio Perez following his collision with Felipe Massa in Montreal.

With both drivers able to speak to the FIA for the first time since their high-speed shunt on the last lap of the Canadian GP - Perez and Massa were undergoing medical checks instead a fortnight ago - stewards confirmed that the Mexican was indeed to blame.

Explanations from Perez and Massa were considered as part of the new elements which prompted the governing body to look at the case again, together with telemetry evidence provided by Force India.

However, in the words of the FIA, 'having considered the new elements including hearing from team representatives and both drivers, and having viewed all available video evidence and examined both teams' and the FIA's telemetry, the Stewards decide that the original decision as handed down in Document 44 of the Canadian Grand Prix shall stand'.

This weekend's stewards, who include multiple Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, decided that Perez was wrong to defend fourth place from Massa's Williams under braking for Turn One at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

'The driver of Car 11 contended that the new element(s) evidenced that in defending his position he was exercising his right, under Article 20.4 of the 2014 Formula One Sporting Regulations, to use the whole track,' explained the stewards' report.

'However it was clear to the Stewards that the defence of his position occurred in the braking area. Article 20.4 specifically states that any right to defend by using the whole track must occur prior to any braking area.

'Accordingly the driver of Car 11 was not entitled to defend his position in the manner he did.'

Although "disappointed" by the decision, Perez said later that it was "time to move on".

“We went there to show all the evidence we had, all the data, the line and the pictures – everything we couldn’t show in Montreal. So for that reason we felt very confident we had proof," he said.

“The stewards looked to be quite sensible and agreed to an extent with everything I said there, but the situation didn’t change at all.

“It will be a big pain to be five places back at this track, which is so small and difficult to overtake.”

This weekend’s Austrian GP is live only on Sky Sports F1. Race Day coverage begins with the Track Parade at 11.30am on Sunday