Formula 1: Dutch GP stewards rescind penalty points for Sainz after Williams appeal

In a big win for Williams driver Carlos Sainz, the stewards at the Dutch Grand Prix have flipped their original call. They dropped the two penalty points from his superlicence after reviewing fresh evidence that showed the crash with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson was just a racing mishap, not Sainz’s fault.

The drama unfolded back on August 31 at Zandvoort’s Turn 1 during a safety car restart. Sainz tried to pass Lawson on the outside, leading to a collision. Stewards slapped him with a 10-second time penalty and those two points, blaming him for causing the incident. Sainz didn’t hold back, calling it “a complete joke” right after the race.

But Williams fought back with new proof during a virtual hearing on Friday. The team shared 360-degree footage from Sainz’s car, rear-facing video from Lawson’s ride, and Sainz’s own detailed account—which they couldn’t access earlier. The key reveal? Lawson’s rear camera caught him losing control for a split second, which actually caused the bump into Sainz’s car (number 55), not the other way around.

Stewards agreed, saying they found a “significant and relevant new element” that changed everything. “We’re satisfied the collision came from a momentary loss of control by Car 30 (Lawson),” they noted. They added that no driver was mostly to blame—Sainz’s bold outside move was risky and might’ve led to trouble anyway, but it didn’t spark the contact.

Sainz already served the 10-second penalty during the race, so the final results stay the same. Still, officials pointed out he finished 17 seconds behind the car ahead, showing the hit cost him big time. With the decision overturned, those penalty points are gone from Sainz’s superlicence, giving the Spanish racer a cleaner slate for the Formula 1 season ahead.


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