Williams have successfully overturned Carlos Sainz’s 10-second penalty from the Dutch Grand Prix, after presenting new video evidence to the FIA stewards. The incident with Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson has now been officially ruled a racing incident.
FIA Rescind Sainz’s Dutch GP Penalty
The penalty was originally handed to Carlos Sainz for contact with Liam Lawson on Lap 26 of the Dutch GP at Zandvoort. Sainz was given a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points, which affected both his race and Williams’ results.
Following a Right of Review submitted by Williams, a hearing was scheduled for September 12. Stewards examined fresh footage from a 360-degree camera on Sainz’s Ferrari, which was not available during the initial investigation.
After reviewing the evidence and hearing both teams’ representatives, the FIA ruled that the clash was a racing incident, rescinding the original decision. While the time penalty served during the race cannot be undone, the penalty points against Sainz have now been removed.
FIA Stewards’ Statement on the Incident
In their statement, the FIA stewards confirmed that the collision was caused by a “momentary loss of control” from Lawson’s car, while also noting that Sainz contributed by taking a risky line. However, they concluded that no driver was wholly to blame, making the original penalty unjustified.
The ruling stated:
“Having considered the new video evidence and hearing from both drivers, the stewards determine to rescind the decision. The collision is classified as a racing incident.”
Williams React to the Successful Appeal
Following the outcome, Williams released a statement expressing satisfaction with the decision:
“We are grateful to the stewards for reviewing Carlos’ Zandvoort penalty and pleased they have now decided it was a racing incident. While it is frustrating that our race was compromised by the original decision, we will continue to work constructively with the FIA to improve stewarding processes.”
What’s Next in Formula 1 2025
Although the penalty reversal cannot change the Dutch Grand Prix classification, the FIA’s decision may spark further discussion on stewarding consistency in Formula 1. With the next races on the calendar, teams will be watching closely to see how future incidents are handled.
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