Sainz fumes after 'unacceptable' penalty and issues warning to FIA Stewards

12:53, 01 Sep

byNorberto Mujica

Carlos Sainz has reacted to the penalty that was imposed on him after a wheel-to-wheel tussle gone wrong with Liam Lawson, a stewarding decision that the Spaniard is not at all happy about.

Coming out of Turn 1, Sainz and Lawson were side by side, with the New Zealander entering the corner first and staying in that position the whole way around.

Upon exiting the corner, Sainz stuck his FW47 around the outside, with Lawson opening up the steering marginally on his VCARB02 and upon this action contact ensued, which ruined both of the drivers’ races since both incurred a puncture.

Moments later it was announced that the Stewards were investigating the incident, despite having postponed investigation upon the Charles Leclerc–George Russell battle for after the flag had dropped during the same race.

The Stewards’ decision was, after having found Sainz to be predominantly at fault, to impose a 10-second penalty on the Spaniard, who when notified of it via the onboard radio, reacted to indignantly.

Sainz deems Stewarding level to be subpar to F1's needs

Having finished the race and out of the cockpit, Sainz addressed media the likes of GPblog and announced his next steps.

Carlos Sainz vs Liam Lawson at Zandvoort

"Honestly, I need to go now to the stewards just to get an explanation. To see what is their point of view of the incident. Because it’s unacceptable," he said, before judging the stewarding level to be subpar to the needs of a championship of the stature of Formula One's.

"I think it’s not the level of stewarding that the Formula 1 is, if they are really considering that to be a 10-second penalty."

Sainz to chase answers as GPDA Director for the whole of motorsport

The Spaniard then vowed to stay in pursuit of a solution to the matter using his role as GPDA Director, highlighting that his concerns stretched far beyond the confines of F1 and into the rest of the motorsport activities overseen by the stewarding body, mincing words so as not to attack or offend any party wrongfully so.

"On my behalf, I think it is a serious matter now that concerns me as a driver, as a GPDA director, and something that I will make sure I raise.

"It’s something that is very concerning. I’m talking as calmly and eloquently and trying to pick my words the best in the best possible way, without trying to put here about a bad word for anyone.

"But what I’ve seen today and what I’ve suffered today is something that concerns me.

"For myself, but for the other drivers and for motorsport in general, if they really think this is how a penalty should be applied to the guy that is around the outside," Sainz concluded.