Williams Explains Rationale for Carlos Sainz Penalty Review at Dutch GP

Williams team principal James Vowles has detailed the reasoning behind the team's submission for a right of review regarding Carlos Sainz's 10-second penalty at the Dutch Grand Prix. Sainz received the penalty and two super license points for a collision with Liam Lawson during a safety car restart at Zandvoort.

Why it matters:

The incident, which saw both drivers suffer punctures and finish outside the points (Lawson P12, Sainz P13), was deemed by stewards to be Sainz's fault. However, Williams believes the decision was "not acceptable" and seeks to challenge it, aiming for more than just a change in race results.

The Incident:

During the first safety car restart, Sainz went side-by-side with Lawson. As Lawson's Racing Bulls car washed out into turbulent air from the Ferrari, he experienced a sudden snap of oversteer. This led to the front-right of the Williams FW47 making contact with the VCARB 02's rear-left.

• Vowles' Analysis: Vowles observed Lawson's onboard footage, noting, "His head is completely in the mirrors... the car doesn't move laterally in a smooth way... It fundamentally snaps a metre across the track into Carlos." He argues this sudden, involuntary movement, not a smooth opening of the wheel, constitutes a racing incident.

Williams' Twofold Goal:

Williams is not aiming to alter the race outcome, as Sainz would still have finished out of the points. Instead, their review has two primary objectives:

• Rescind Super License Points: Williams wants the two penalty points added to Sainz's FIA super license to be removed.
• Clarity on Racing Guidelines: The team seeks a clearer understanding of the specific racing guidelines that led to Sainz's punishment. Vowles emphasized, "I'd like to have just a straightforward conversation so we all know how to go racing in the future."