Williams Successfully Appeals Sainz’s Penalty from Dutch GP
In a significant development, Williams Racing has successfully persuaded stewards to rescind the 10-second time penalty imposed on Carlos Sainz during the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. The penalty stemmed from a collision with Liam Lawson, which resulted in both drivers suffering punctures after Sainz’s right front tire made contact with Lawson’s left rear near the exit of Turn 1.
The original ruling, which also included two penalty points on Sainz’s license, was contested following the race, with Sainz expressing his intention to address the stewards about the decision. At the Italian Grand Prix, Williams submitted a right to review request, asserting that new evidence warranted a reassessment.
During a hearing on Friday, stewards accepted Williams’ argument that new camera angles—specifically a 360-degree view from Sainz’s car and a rear-facing angle from Lawson’s—were critical to the review process. These angles had not been available during the initial ruling but were deemed “new, relevant, and significant.”
While the stewards acknowledged the significance of the new footage, they stated that Sainz’s testimony did not influence the decision, emphasizing their authority to assess incidents based solely on video evidence.
In the subsequent hearing, Williams contended that the incident was a racing incident, attributing the collision to Lawson’s loss of control mid-corner. Notably, Williams clarified that they were not seeking a penalty for Lawson but argued that Sainz’s punishment was unjust.
The stewards ultimately concurred, stating, “no driver was wholly or predominantly to blame for that collision.” While they noted that Sainz contributed to the incident by positioning himself too closely to Lawson, they determined that Lawson’s momentary loss of control was the primary cause.
Although Sainz’s time penalty could not be erased due to having already been served, the rescinding of his two penalty points was a significant outcome. Williams expressed satisfaction with the stewards’ reconsideration, highlighting their commitment to improving stewarding processes moving forward.
