The FIA has confirmed that it will review the incident between Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson in Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix, and has removed the Spaniard’s two penalty points.
The Williams driver picked up the points, as well as a 10-second time penalty, for contact made with the Kiwi on Lap 26, after the resumption of racing after a Safety Car period.
Sainz tried to overtake Lawson around the outside of Turn 1 on the Zandvoort circuit, but the Racing Bulls squeezed Sainz wide, with the two touching.
It caused a left rear puncture on Lawson’s car, as well as front wing damage to Sainz, curtailing both men’s chances of points. Sainz blasted the decision, calling it a “complete joke”.
Williams boss James Vowles later confirmed it had submitted an appeal, which led to a hearing on Friday, attended by both Williams and Racing Bulls staff, including both drivers.
The evidence submitted by Williams included footage from several onboard cameras, which, as per the FIA’s official document, “satisfies all of the Review Criteria, [therefore] the Stewards decided to re-examine the Decision.”
FIA clarifies Carlos Sainz Dutch GP decision
The FIA’s document concludes: “Having considered the matter extensively and having reviewed the new video evidence and heard from the drivers of both cars and their team representatives, the Stewards determine to rescind the Decision.
“The Stewards agree with Williams’ characterisation of the collision as a racing incident. The Stewards are satisfied that the collision was caused by a momentary loss of control by Car 30 [Lawson].
“However, in the Stewards’ assessment, no driver was wholly or predominantly to blame for that collision.
“Car 55 [Sainz] contributed to the incident by taking the risk to drive close to, and on the outside of, Car 30 when Car 55 had no right to room there and there was a real possibility that, if the collision had not occurred where it did, Car 55 would run out of track at the exit and/or a collision would have occurred at the exit for which the Driver of Car 55 would likely be predominantly if not wholly to blame.
“The time penalty imposed by the Decision was served by Car 55 during the race.
“The Stewards have no power to remedy that served time penalty by amending the Classifications but note that the gap between Car 55 to the car ahead in the Final Classification of the race (coincidently Car 30) was 17 seconds.
“The Decision having been rescinded, it follows that the 2 penalty points imposed on the Driver of Car 55 are to be removed.”
In a statment, Williams said: “We are grateful to the stewards for reviewing Carlos’ Zandvoort penalty and are pleased they have now decided he was not at fault and that this was a racing incident.
“While it is frustrating that our race was compromised by the original decision, mistakes are part of motor racing and we will continue to work constructively with the FIA to improve stewarding processes and review the racing rules for the future.”
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