Carlos Sainz has hailed the overturning of his penalty from the Dutch Grand Prix as a “breakthrough” moment for Formula 1. The stewards handed the Williams driver a 10-second penalty and two penalty points for his collision with Racing Bulls rookie Liam Lawson at Zandvoort.
Sainz, attempting an overtake around the outside of Turn 1. He collided with Lawson’s rear left tyre after the Kiwi drifted to the left mid-corner. The stewards initially penalized Sainz, believing Lawson had “the right to the corner” at the apex. However, Williams launched a protest, which led to the revocation of the penalty points. Although Sainz’s finishing position remained 13th due to being over 10 seconds behind Lawson.
Sainz’s Reaction: A Step Forward for F1 Stewarding
Carlos Sainz expressed his pleasure with the result and emphasized the importance of the overturn. “It’s a breakthrough because it’s the first time that I’ve managed to present new evidence and accept a hearing,” he said. “We tried before and we never managed in other teams, so it shows that the mechanism is there and is there for a reason.”
The Spanish driver has been vocal in his criticism of F1 stewarding, which relies on volunteers who only work specific grands prix. He believes that a more permanent solution could help improve consistency in decision-making. Sainz advocated for full-time stewards to ensure fair and consistent rulings across the entire calendar, without financial barriers.
“As a group, FIA, if we all agree, that should be the way forward where at least two of the three stewards are permanent,” Sainz explained. “We shouldn’t care about who pays because there’s enough money in the sport to pay those salaries.”
Racing Guidelines: Are They Clear Enough for Drivers?
Sainz also believes that F1’s racing guidelines, while a step forward, still need refinement. “The guidelines have been an effort to make it very clear for the stewards and the drivers to know who is likely to have responsibility for the incident,” he said. “But it hasn’t had the impact that we all wished it would in terms of clarity.”
The confusion surrounding racing guidelines remains a significant issue. His Williams teammate Alex Albon even claimed, “I still don’t really know how to properly race,” highlighting the uncertainty many drivers face. Sainz pointed out that racing guidelines are just that—guidelines, not strict rules.
“We cannot forget the fact of a very important word that is ‘guidelines’,” Sainz said. “Guidelines are not a rule. There’s not a rule that says, ‘I cannot go around the outside of a corner’. It’s a guideline to say if you are at the outside of the corner, you’re very likely to be penalized if you don’t back out.”
The Dutch GP incident at Zandvoort serves as a perfect example, Sainz noted. He believes that if a car on the inside loses control, the car attempting the overtake around the outside should not be blamed for the crash.
“I’ve been racing my whole life, and in the car, I don’t think about the guidelines,” Sainz admitted. “I think more about clean racing and what I think is fair. I always try and keep it fair.”
Sainz’s call for improved F1 guidelines and full-time stewards shows his commitment to the sport’s growth. He seeks consistency in racing decisions. As he prepares for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, this breakthrough moment may lead to more consistent decision-making in Formula 1.
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