Dutch Grand Prix
Carlos Sainz Suffers Fresh Blow After ‘Complete Joke’ Penalty for Liam Lawson Clash
Carlos Sainz’s Dutch Grand Prix turned from disappointment to outright frustration after the FIA handed the Williams driver a 10-second penalty and two penalty points on his Formula 1 superlicence for a clash with Red Bull reserve Liam Lawson.
The incident occurred at Turn 1 following a mid-race Safety Car restart, where Sainz attempted an outside move on Liam Lawson. Contact left both cars with punctures, forcing them to pit and ultimately finish outside the points in 12th and 13th place.
FIA’s Verdict and Penalty
In their stewards’ report, the FIA deemed Carlos Sainz “wholly or predominantly to blame” for the collision, ruling that Lawson had the right to the corner as Sainz’s front axle was not fully ahead at the apex. The decision triggered a 10-second race penalty and two penalty points, bringing Sainz’s current total to four points in his 12-month window.
Under F1’s penalty points system, any driver who accumulates 12 points in 12 months faces an automatic race ban—a fate that befell Kevin Magnussen last season.
Sainz: “It’s a Complete Joke”
Sainz was audibly furious over team radio, calling the decision “the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in my life.” Speaking post-race, he argued that Turn 1 at Zandvoort allows for side-by-side racing and placed blame on Lawson for forcing unnecessary contact. “With Liam, it always seems to be very difficult. He prefers to risk a DNF or a puncture than accept two cars side by side. Hopefully it will come with more experience,” Carlos Sainz told media. “But to then get a penalty for it? It’s a complete joke.”
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Lawson Fires Back
Liam Lawson, however, stood by the FIA’s ruling and criticized Carlos Sainz for venting publicly instead of speaking directly to him. “If it was my fault, I would have got the penalty,” Liam Lawson said. “I wish he’d just come and talk to me instead of telling everybody else. I understand his frustration—it ruined my day too—but the rules are the rules.”
Liam Lawson also pointed out that he had previously been on the receiving end of similar calls, highlighting the risks of racing on cold tyres after restarts.
The incident adds to Carlos Sainz’s rocky debut season with Williams after leaving Ferrari. With points scarce and tempers high, the Spaniard faces growing scrutiny, especially as penalty points accumulate. Meanwhile, Liam Lawson, still fighting to prove his place on the grid long-term, gains valuable experience from a high-profile battle—even if the result left him outside the top ten.
As the season heats up, all eyes will be on how both drivers handle future on-track duels, with the Zandvoort clash sure to be remembered as one of the most contentious flashpoints of 2025 so far.
