Williams Secures Review Hearing for Carlos Sainz's Controversial Penalty

Williams has finally been granted a formal hearing to review the contentious penalty issued to Carlos Sainz at the Dutch Grand Prix. The outcome on Friday will determine if the 10-second time penalty and two super license points against the Ferrari driver will be re-evaluated.

Why it matters:

This review could set an important precedent for incident handling and driver penalties in Formula 1. It directly impacts Sainz's super license points and championship standing, while also testing the consistency of stewarding decisions, especially given Sainz's surprise at the initial verdict.

The details:

• The incident occurred during a safety car restart at Zandvoort on September 30, when Sainz and Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) made contact around the outside of Turn 1.
• Sainz was subsequently penalized for causing the collision, which resulted in damage to both cars.
• Williams, acting on behalf of Sainz, filed a petition for review on September 4, challenging the stewards' original decision.
• The FIA has confirmed a virtual hearing, scheduled for Friday, September 12, 2025, at 3:30 PM CEST.

How it works:

The hearing will proceed in two distinct parts:

• Part One: The stewards will first assess whether Williams can present "a significant and relevant new element" that was not available at the time of the initial decision, as stipulated by Article 14.3 of the FIA International Sporting Code.
• Part Two: Should new evidence be accepted, a second session will be convened, likely immediately following the first, to formally review the original penalty decision.

A representative from Liam Lawson's Racing Bulls team has also been requested to attend the proceedings.

What's next:

The outcome of Friday's hearing will be crucial, potentially leading to the penalty being upheld, modified, or entirely rescinded. This decision will significantly influence the ongoing discourse around driver accountability and the consistency of stewarding in Formula 1.