Lawson Rejects Sainz's Accusations After Zandvoort Clash, Williams Seeks Penalty Review

Why it matters

The collision between Liam Lawson and 카를로스 사인츠 at Zandvoort not only ruined their races but also ignited a heated dispute, now escalating with Williams' request for a penalty review. This move could bring crucial clarity to F1 racing rules regarding wheel-to-wheel battles.

The Incident

On Lap 26 of the 자네르부르트 그랑프리, immediately following a Safety Car restart, 사인츠 (Williams) attempted an overtake around the outside of Turn 1 on 로슨 (Racing Bulls). Contact ensued, resulting in punctures for both cars and forcing unscheduled pit stops, effectively ending their hopes for points. Stewards subsequently penalized 사인츠 with a 10-second penalty and two penalty points, deeming him at fault for the collision.

사인츠's Fury

사인츠 was vehemently opposed to the stewards' decision, calling it “the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in my life.” He publicly criticized 로슨, stating, “When racing him it always seems to be very difficult to have two cars side-by-side.” He accused 로슨 of preferring contact and risking a DNF over accepting side-by-side racing.

로슨's Rebuttal

로슨 expressed surprise at 사인츠's comments, particularly his public remarks rather than direct dialogue. He emphasized the difficulty of Turn 1 on cold, new tires after a Safety Car restart, arguing that as the car attempting the overtake, 사인츠 failed to position his axle correctly. 로슨 maintained that he was merely defending and that if he were at fault, he would have received a penalty. He also highlighted the updated FIA racing guidelines, which state that for an outside car to claim space, its front axle must be ahead of the inside car at the apex, which he asserts was not the case.

Williams Seeks Clarity

The fallout has now extended beyond the drivers, with Williams officially submitting a ‘Right of Review’ request to the FIA concerning 사인츠's penalty. While this review won't alter 로슨's previous race result, Williams stated its primary motivation is to gain clarity on future racing conduct. The team emphasized, “It is important for us to understand how to go racing in future, and we are hopeful of a positive outcome.”

What's Next

The FIA has yet to confirm a hearing date for the review request. If accepted, both Williams and Racing Bulls will have the opportunity to present their cases before any potential amendment to the penalty is considered.