Sainz: The stewards are not up to Formula 1's standard

      The clash between Carlos Sainz and Liam Lawson in the fight for position at Zandvoort resulted in a double puncture. Both drivers made it back to the pits on punctured tyres and rejoined last, but the Spaniard also received a 10-second penalty.

      Carlos disagreed with the stewards' decision, demanded explanations, but they refused to speak with him because they were busy with other incidents. So he went to the press.

      Carlos Sainz: “In this corner two drivers can comfortably race without unnecessary contact, but racing with Liam is never without complications.

      He is always ready to make contact, risking retirement or a puncture rather than allowing another car to sit alongside. I hope that with experience he will change his approach, realising that he is losing too many points because of this.

      But I don’t understand what I got a 10-second penalty for. It’s nonsense. I need explanations, I want to understand the stewards’ position. If they really think this deserves a 10-second penalty, then the standard of such stewards is not up to modern Formula 1. This is a serious issue that worries me as a driver, as GPDA director, and I will definitely raise it at the next meeting.

      The situation is very worrying. Believe me, I am choosing my words carefully right now, trying to speak calmly and not offend anyone, but what happened concerns not only me personally but other drivers as well. If they really think that in this situation the driver on the outside should be punished, then I don’t know what to say.

      I didn’t even attack Liam. I had room on the outside and I was trying to force him to move over before turns two and three. I wasn’t trying to overtake him. I was simply running alongside so I could then take a better line, and suddenly there was a collision that caught me out.

      Yes, a driver chooses which battles to take part in. Liam is only at the start of his career, and if he keeps using this approach—either a crash or he stays ahead—I will take note of it. But for now the story repeats itself – I could have finished fifth, and through no fault of my own I lost ten points.

      In my career I have fought with Lewis, with Sergio, with Oscar, with Charles, with many drivers, doing exactly the same, on the outside and the inside, in different conditions, at the start and at the end of races, and it never led to a collision.

      If a driver on the inside is prepared to make contact—that’s his business, but why is the one on the outside the one who gets penalised? This worries me a lot.”

      Of course, Lawson has the opposite view on the situation…

      Liam Lawson: “Obviously I’m not over the moon either – it ruined my day. But the rules are what they are. This year I’ve also been in a similar situation trying to overtake and thought the other driver should leave me room, but that didn’t happen and I got a penalty.

      It was the first lap after the restart when the track is slippery and the tyres are cold. You can attack, but it’s risky. He tried, there was an incident, the risk didn’t pay off, and he got penalised.

      The fact is he initiated the situation. He attacked, he was penalised, and now he can say whatever he likes. I suggest he talks to me in person, not through the press.”