FIA Sets Date for Williams' Appeal on Sainz's Zandvoort Penalty

Williams' 'right to review' for Carlos Sainz's Zandvoort penalty is scheduled for this Friday. The team will present new evidence to challenge the 10-second time penalty and two license points Sainz received for a collision with Liam Lawson. Sainz maintains a strong belief that the stewards made the incorrect decision at the time.

Why it matters:

• Carlos Sainz firmly believes the stewards' decision was unjust and seeks to clear his record of the penalty points.
• Williams aims to have these points removed and gain crucial clarity on how such racing incidents will be judged in the future, potentially influencing on-track conduct.

The details:

• The incident occurred at the Zandvoort Grand Prix, resulting in Sainz's penalty for contact with Liam Lawson.
• Sainz stated during the Monza media day that he "still firmly believes" the penalty was "not acceptable," attributing potential errors to the busy nature of the race.
• Williams Team Principal James Vowles emphasized the team's objective: removing the penalty points and understanding "how to go racing in the future."
• The FIA has confirmed a virtual hearing for Friday, September 12, 2025, at 15:30 CEST.
• Part One: Stewards will first determine if Williams' new evidence constitutes a "significant and relevant new element" that was unavailable during the original decision.
• Part Two: Should the evidence be deemed significant, a second part of the hearing will be convened shortly thereafter to review the penalty itself.

What's next:

• The outcome of this hearing could lead to the removal of Sainz's penalty points, which impact his Super Licence tally.
• This review will also establish an important precedent for how similar on-track incidents are officiated by the stewards in upcoming Formula 1 races.