Lawson Blasts Sainz Over Dutch GP Feud, Accusing Him of "Mouthing Off"

A week after their controversial clash at the Dutch Grand Prix, the feud between Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson continues to escalate. Lawson has now accused the Spaniard of "mouthing off" to the media about the incident instead of confronting him directly.

The Zandvoort Incident

The pair made contact at Zandvoort during the restart on Lap 26. Sainz attempted an overtake around the outside of Turn 1, leading to contact that resulted in punctures for both cars and effectively ruined their races. Stewards placed the blame on Lawson, an AlphaTauri driver at the time, handing him a 10-second penalty and two penalty points.

Sainz's Outburst

Carlos Sainz reacted strongly to the in-race sanction, calling the ruling "the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in my life" and criticizing Lawson’s defensive tactics. "When racing him it always seems to be very difficult to have two cars side-by-side," Sainz fumed after the race. "He always seems to prefer to have a bit of contact and risk a DNF or a puncture like we did, than to actually accept having two cars side-by-side."

Lawson's Response

Speaking to the media in Monza, Lawson dismissed Sainz's comments. He expressed surprise, noting the difficulty of the corner with cold, hard tyres on a restart. "He’s the car going for the overtake around the outside, and he didn’t get his axle where he needed to get it. And somehow I’m deemed as being aggressive. So I don’t really understand it," Lawson stated.

• Why it matters: Lawson believes his race was ruined, denying the team a potential top-five finish, but highlights that he didn't air his grievances publicly.
• A lack of direct communication: Lawson revealed that Sainz, despite his public anger, has not spoken to him directly about the incident. "I would have thought because of how upset he was, he would probably want to talk about it, but he hasn’t," he added.

The Rules Debate

Lawson maintains that FIA guidelines support his position, stating an overtaking car must have its front axle ahead at the apex for an outside pass – a condition he says Sainz failed to meet. "I don’t know why I was deemed as being aggressive when he was the car overtaking me. I was just defending, I think if the incident was my fault, I would have got a penalty. So to me it’s pretty clear," Lawson insisted.

Penalty Review

The dispute has now extended to the teams. Williams has formally submitted a Right of Review request to the FIA to challenge the penalty imposed on Carlos Sainz. Williams stated: "It is important for us to understand how to go racing in future, and we are hopeful of a positive outcome." The FIA has yet to set a hearing date, and if granted, both Williams and Racing Bulls (Lawson's current team) would present their arguments.