FIA Schedules Review for Sainz's Zandvoort Penalty

FIA Schedules Review for Sainz's Zandvoort Penalty

The FIA has set a date for the 'right to review' submission by Williams regarding Carlos Sainz's penalty from the Zandvoort Grand Prix. The initial hearing is scheduled for this Friday, September 12, 2025.

Why it matters:

• Carlos Sainz received a 10-second time penalty and two license points for a collision with Liam Lawson at Zandvoort.
• Sainz firmly believes the stewards made an incorrect decision, citing a potentially overwhelming afternoon for officials.
• Williams' primary objective is to have the penalty points removed from Sainz's license and to gain clarity on future racing conduct.

The details:

• Original Incident: Sainz was penalized for causing a collision with Liam Lawson during the Zandvoort race.
• Sainz's Stance: He expressed strong disagreement with the penalty, stating he believes the decision was "not acceptable."
• Team's Submission: Williams initiated the 'right to review' process to challenge the stewards' ruling.
• Hearing Structure:
  • The hearing will be held virtually on Friday, September 12, 2025, at 15:30 CEST.
  • It will proceed in two parts. The first part will assess whether "a significant and relevant new element" exists that was unavailable at the time of the original decision.
  • Should new evidence be deemed significant, a second part of the hearing will be convened shortly thereafter to re-evaluate the penalty.

What's next: The outcome of Friday's hearing will determine if new evidence warrants a full review of Sainz's penalty. If the stewards agree to a second part, it could potentially lead to the removal of Sainz's penalty points and offer valuable insights into the FIA's stewarding approach for similar incidents in the future.