Sainz's imposed penalty under review, as affirmed by Williams!

Formula 1 controversy escalates with Williams filing for 'Right of Review' over the disputed penalty against Carlos Sainz at Zandvoort. The question remains, what exactly are they challenging?

, and Administrator

2025 September 13 . 8:07 PM

2 min read

Sainz's alleged penalty under dispute, as stated by Williams.

Sainz's imposed penalty under review, as affirmed by Williams!

In the recent Formula 1 race at Zandvoort, Carlos Sainz found himself embroiled in controversy after a collision with Liam Lawson during the opening lap. Sainz believes the penalty he received was not justified, as he attempted to overtake Lawson on the outside in Turn 1, but the New Zealander did not leave enough room.

According to racing guidelines, the driver on the inside of the corner has the right of way. However, Sainz argues that having fixed stewards in Formula 1 would help simplify the regulations and provide consistency in decision-making.

Sainz's anger towards the F1 race stewards has somewhat subsided, but he still maintains that they had a difficult Sunday and made a hastily decided penalty. His teammate, Alex Albon, agrees with Sainz and thinks Lawson should have received a penalty instead.

The crash with Lawson eliminated Sainz from the points race, adding to his frustration. The controversy surrounding Sainz's penalty has been a topic of discussion for several drivers in recent years.

In an effort to address this issue, the GPDA, of which Sainz is the chairman, has made a proposal for uniform professional stewards in Formula 1. This proposal has been made by numerous drivers in recent years, with the aim of improving consistency and fairness in decision-making.

In response to the controversy, Williams has filed a 'Right of Review' with the FIA regarding Sainz's penalty. The 'Right of Review' allows teams to challenge decisions outside the usual time and regulatory limits for a protest. However, high hurdles must be overcome to reopen a case for a 'Right of Review'.

It's important to note that Sainz's opinion on the need for uniform stewards is personal and not a statement from the GPDA. The specific names of the stewards responsible for the 2025 Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort are not provided in the available search results, and there is no information confirming if the same stewards also officiated at the Monza race.

Sainz renewed the call for uniform professional stewards in Formula 1, emphasising the need for consistency and fairness in decision-making. As the controversy surrounding his penalty continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the FIA will take action on Williams' 'Right of Review' and whether the call for uniform stewards will be heeded in the future.