Williams Racing has filed a request for a review concerning Carlos Sainz’s contentious penalty following his collision with Liam Lawson during the Dutch Grand Prix. The incident occurred as Sainz attempted an outside overtaking maneuver at Turn 1 during a Safety Car restart, leading to contact and damage for both competitors.
The race stewards ultimately imposed a 10-second time penalty on Sainz, alongside two penalty points on his super licence—a decision the Spaniard characterized as a “complete joke” post-race. According to the stewards, Sainz’s front axle was not ahead of Lawson’s, which granted Lawson the right to the corner, thereby placing the responsibility on Sainz.
Finishing in 13th place at Zandvoort, Sainz acknowledged that while the time penalty stands, the associated penalty points can still be contested. A statement from the Williams team confirmed their decision: “We have submitted a request for a right of review to the FIA regarding Carlos’ penalty in Zandvoort. Understanding the rationale behind racing decisions is pivotal for us moving forward, and we are optimistic for a favorable resolution.”
Williams’ Sainz ranks 17th in the Drivers’ Championship.
During a press conference prior to the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, Sainz revealed that he had discussions with the stewards after the Zandvoort race, suggesting they acknowledged that the penalty was inappropriate. “Once all the relevant evidence was reviewed, it seemed clear to me that they recognized their earlier decision may not have been the best,” he noted.
He expressed determination to gather sufficient evidence to challenge the initial ruling, asserting, “I still strongly believe that the penalty I received was misjudged, which is acceptable if we can revisit it. If there was a misunderstanding or a lack of proper analysis, there remains an opportunity to reconsider and amend the decision.” Sainz also reflected on the stewards’ hectic race day, acknowledging that the urgency of the situation might have influenced their judgment.
Williams had until 96 hours after the Dutch Grand Prix to submit their petition, making Thursday afternoon their deadline. Their official filing came within the stipulated time frame. For the penalty to be overturned, the team must present a “significant and relevant new element” that was not available during the original decision-making process.
Upcoming Schedule for the Italian Grand Prix
Friday, September 5
8:30 AM: F3 Practice
9:55 AM: F2 Practice
12:00 PM: Italian Grand Prix Practice One (session starts at 12:30 PM)*
1:55 PM: F3 Qualifying
2:50 PM: F2 Qualifying
3:35 PM: Italian Grand Prix Practice Two (session starts at 4:00 PM)
5:15 PM: The F1 Show
Saturday, September 6
8:10 AM: F3 Sprint
11:15 AM: Italian Grand Prix Practice Three (session starts at 11:30 AM)
1:10 PM: F2 Sprint
2:15 PM: Italian Grand Prix Qualifying build-up
3:00 PM: ITALIAN GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*
5:00 PM: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday, September 7
7:10 AM: F3 Feature Race
8:40 AM: F2 Feature Race
10:40 AM: Porsche Supercup Race
12:30 PM: Grand Prix Sunday: Italian GP build-up
2:00 PM: THE ITALIAN GRAND PRIX*
4:00 PM: Chequered Flag: Italian GP reaction
5:00 PM: Ted’s Notebook
*Also available on Sky Sports Main Event.
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