Williams launch bid to overturn controversial Sainz penalty

Williams have lodged a right of review request over Carlos Sainz's controversial penalty for colliding with Liam Lawson at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Sainz tried to overtake Lawson around the outside at Turn 1 on a Safety Car restart with the pair battling for the points positions, but they made contact and both drivers received punctures.

The stewards gave Sainz a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points on his super licence which the Spaniard declared a "complete joke" after the race.

• Italian GP: Schedule and how to watch on Sky Sports
• F1 2025 schedule | F1 championship standings
• Got Sky? Watch F1 races LIVE on your phone! 📱
• Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW 📺
• Choose the sports notifications you want! 🔔

The stewards said Sainz's front axle was not ahead of Lawson's which meant the Racing Bulls driver had "the right to the corner" therefore Sainz was "wholly or predominantly to blame".

Sainz finished 13th in Zandvoort and although his 10-second time penalty cannot be reversed, his two penalty points can.

A Williams team statement said: "We can confirm we have submitted a right of review to the FIA relating to Carlos' penalty in Zandvoort. It is important for us to understand how to go racing in future, and we are hopeful of a positive outcome."

Earlier on in the press conference ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, Sainz said he spoke to the stewards after Zandvoort and alluded that they admitted the penalty was wrong.

"It was very clear to me that as soon as they got all the evidence right and they looked at the places they needed to take the right decision, it was clear to me that I think they realised probably the decision taken wasn't the best one," said Sainz.

"Now we are trying to see if we can come up with enough evidence to change the outcome of the penalty, because I still firmly believe it was a very poor penalty I received and a bad judgment, which can happen as long as you have the capacity to revisit it.

"If there's been a misunderstanding or a lack of evidence or analysis, then there is still time to re-analyse it, reopen it, and change it. I do believe they had a very difficult Sunday looking back at it. They had a very busy afternoon, and maybe it was overwhelming because of the amount of stuff that happened in the race.

"But I still firmly believe what I thought after the race. Now in a cooler-headed state, I still believe the penalty was not acceptable, and I made it very clear."

Williams had until 96 hours after the Dutch Grand Prix, which takes them to Thursday evening, to file a petition for a right of review.

They officially lodged the request on Thursday afternoon within the allotted time period.

The team must bring forward a "significant and relevant new element" that was unavailable at the time the decision was made for it to be overturned.

Sky Sports F1's Italian GP Schedule

Friday September 5
8.30am: F3 Practice
9.55am: F2 Practice
12pm: Italian Grand Prix Practice One (session starts at 12:30pm)*
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3.35pm: Italian Grand Prix Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show

Saturday September 6
8.10am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Italian Grand Prix Practice Three (session starts at 11:30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Italian Grand Prix Qualifying build-up
3pm: ITALIAN GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook

Sunday September 7
7.10am: F3 Feature Race
8.40am: F2 Feature Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Italian GP build-up
2pm: THE ITALIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Italian GP reaction
5pm: Ted's Notebook

*also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1's European season concludes with the Italian Grand Prix - watch the whole Monza weekend live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime