Liam Lawson and Carlos Sainz have shared their reactions after a dramatic collision during the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. The incident ended both drivers’ hopes of finishing in the points, drawing sharp opinions from each camp.
The clash happened on Lap 26 following a Safety Car restart. Running in seventh and eighth, Sainz attacked Lawson into Turn 1. The Williams driver went outside while Lawson defended the inside. Contact occurred when Sainz’s front-right touched Lawson’s left-rear, puncturing both cars. Forced to pit, they rejoined a lap down and finished 12th and 13th.
Race stewards deemed Carlos Sainz at fault and handed him a 10-second penalty, sparking his frustration.
Sainz Calls Penalty “Unacceptable”
“I think I always try and be quite controlled and pick my words on the radio quite well, let’s say level-headed. I try in this high adrenaline, stressful sport. Today was very difficult because first of all I suffered an incident that cost me another 10 points in the championship when I was executing one of my best weekends of the year. That’s frustration number one,” said Sainz.
“Frustration number two is racing a guy that it’s not the first time we see him exposing himself to having an incident with another driver. I’ve raced multiple guys around this track in Turn 1 and multiple quality guys that allow for a side-by-side movement like that in a beautiful corner. Today, I chose to have that side-by-side line with someone that prefers not to have it and prefers to risk an incident and risk losing so many points.”
“It’s very frustrating, very disappointed but on top of that to get a 10-second penalty is something unacceptable, something I don’t understand.”
Lawson Defends His Position
Lawson also voiced disappointment, especially on a weekend when Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar scored his first F1 podium. “It just sucks for both of us. It’s obviously not my intention but it’s lap one on a restart and we have very low grip going into Turn 1, said Lawson.
“The rules are written as they are and we all know how they’re written so as much as we sometimes don’t agree with it, I’ve been on the receiving end of it as well this year and I disagree with it as well, but that’s how they are.
“For it to be his corner, he has to be ahead at the apex; he wasn’t anywhere near that today so that’s why he got a penalty for it I’m guessing. It just sucks for us but obviously for Isack on the other side of the garage, to have a podium is very cool.”
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