Carlos Sainz has had his penalty points from the F1 Dutch GP cancelled after the FIA overturned its decision to penalise him for a collision with Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson.
The Williams driver was handed a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points on his FIA Super Licence after he made contact with Lawson while attempting an overtake during the Dutch GP. Sainz described the penalty as a “complete joke” after he finished 13th in the race.
Ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, Williams lodged a right of review into the case, with team principal James Vowles arguing it was merely a racing incident.
Representatives from both Williams and Racing Bulls met virtually with the stewards from the Dutch Grand Prix to discuss the review on Friday. Upon issuing its verdict on Saturday, the FIA agreed with Williams and rescinded the penalty points that Sainz had been given.
During the hearing, Williams provided new and significant evidence to justify the review, including 360-degree footage from Sainz’s car, footage from the rear-facing camera on Lawson’s car and testimony from Sainz. This footage would not have been available to the stewards when the penalty was issued, since it is only accessed after the race.
FIA: “No driver was wholly to blame” for the incident
In the statement released confirming its decision, the FIA said, “The Stewards are satisfied that the collision was caused by a momentary loss of control by Car 30. However, in the Stewards’ assessment, no driver was wholly or predominantly to blame for that collision. Car 55 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 stewards acknowledged that Sainz had already served his time penalty during the race, and therefore nothing could be done to remedy that. The driver that finished ahead of him (coincidentally Lawson) was 17 seconds ahead.
The statement continued, “The Decision having been rescinded, it follows that the 2 penalty points imposed on the Driver of Car 55 are to be removed.”
Williams grateful yet frustrated at review process
Following the confirmation, Williams released a statement expressing welcoming the FIA’s decision, while also expressing frustration at the case.
The statement read, “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.”
