Sainz Blasts Zandvoort Penalty as "Not F1 Level," Vows Action as GPDA Director

Carlos Sainz endured another challenging weekend at Zandvoort, receiving a time penalty and clashing with Liam Lawson. Now, the Spanish driver, serving as a GPDA director, plans to take action against race control.

Why it matters

Carlos Sainz's strong condemnation of the stewarding at the Dutch Grand Prix, combined with his role as a Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) director, signals a potential high-level challenge to current F1 officiating standards. This could reignite crucial discussions about consistency and competence in race decisions, with implications for driver safety and fair competition.

The details

• Sainz's debut year with Williams has been difficult, frequently overshadowed by teammate Alex Albon, who finished fifth in Zandvoort while Sainz struggled to 14th.
• The incident occurred on Lap 27, following a Safety Car restart, when Sainz collided with Liam Lawson.
• Race stewards deemed Sainz "wholly or predominantly" at fault, issuing a 10-second time penalty.
• Sainz expressed his fury over team radio, calling Lawson "so stupid" and the penalty decision "a joke" and "the most ridiculous decision of my life."
• Post-race, he doubled down on his criticism, stating, "This is not the level of Formula 1 race management."

GPDA Role

Sainz announced his intention to leverage his position as a director of the GPDA to push for improvements. The GPDA, formed in 1961 and re-established in 1994, is the official representative body for F1 drivers. George Russell (Mercedes) also serves as a driver representative on its board, following in the footsteps of legends like Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, and Sebastian Vettel.

Historically, the GPDA has been instrumental in advocating for significant safety initiatives, including the controversial but now standard Halo device, introduced after the tragic death of Jules Bianchi in 2014.

What's next

Sainz intends to bring this incident directly before the race stewards, potentially sparking a broader debate within the sport about the application and fairness of race penalties. The Zandvoort incident is unlikely to be the last word on this matter.