Carlos Sainz’s 10-second penalty during the Dutch Grand Prix 2025 at Zandvoort has been a hot topic in the Formula 1 world. Recently, the FIA made a significant decision by waiving the penalty points that were initially given to Sainz after reviewing new evidence submitted by the Williams team, which Sainz drives for. This development has brought relief to Sainz and highlighted the importance of the review process in motorsport.
So, What Gave Carlos Sainz The Penalty?
During the Dutch Grand Prix 2025, Sainz was given a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points on his superlicence for a collision with Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson. The incident happened during a safety car restart when Sainz tried to overtake Lawson on the outside of a corner. The two cars made contact, causing damage and affecting their race positions. Initially, Carlos Sainz was seen as being at fault, which is why the stewards handed down the penalties.
When Williams Filed A Right Of Review Request
However, Williams was not convinced by this decision. They filed a formal Right of Review request with the FIA, submitting new race footage that was unavailable during the race. This included a 360-degree onboard camera from Sainz’s car and rear-facing footage from Lawson’s car. The additional evidence showed a more complex situation, suggesting that the collision was a racing incident and not solely Sainz’s fault.
FIA Waives Off Carlos Sainz’s 10-Second Penalty
Following two hearings on September 12 and 13, 2025, the stewards agreed with Williams’ argument. They decided that neither driver was fully to blame. It was confirmed that Liam Lawson made a risky move close to Sainz’s car, and Sainz experienced a momentary loss of control. As a result, the two penalty points that had been added to Sainz’s superlicence were removed. However, the 10-second penalty time that Sainz served during the race could not be changed or removed, as the stewards do not have the power to alter race classifications post-event.
Williams Racing expressed gratitude for the review outcome, stating their satisfaction that the FIA now acknowledges the incident as a racing incident. While they regret that the initial penalty affected Carlos Sainz’s race, they appreciate the stewarding process being open to correction. They also mentioned continuing efforts to improve the fairness and clarity of stewarding decisions in the future. For Carlos Sainz, this means a cleaner record moving forward and reassurance that his actions on the track were understood correctly.
So, while the in-race penalty remains, the FIA’s decision to waive the penalty points from Sainz’s licence reflects a fair reassessment and shows that racing incidents are sometimes just part of the game; no driver is completely to blame.
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