Liam Lawson and Carlos Sainz have given their opinions on the collision between themselves during the Dutch Grand Prix which ruined their chances of finishing in the points.
The pair had been circulating in seventh and eighth following a Safety Car period at the end of Lap 26, with Sainz getting a run on the Racing Bulls driver ahead into Turn 1 at the Zandvoort Circuit.
The Williams man went to the outside line as Lawson defended on the inside, with the front-right of Sainz’s car clipping the left-rear of the Racing Bulls machine mid-corner.
Both drivers instantly suffered punctures and were forced to crawl back to the pits before finding themselves a lap down after rejoining, eventually finishing outside the points in 12th and 13th respectively.
Sainz was deemed at fault for the incident and handed a 10-second penalty but was left frustrated by Lawson’s actions.
“I think I always try and be quite controlled and pick my words on the radio quite well, let’s say level-headed. I try in this high adrenaline, stressful sport,” said Sainz, who has not finished in the points in the last five Grands Prix.
“Today was very difficult because first of all I suffered an incident that cost me another 10 points in the championship when I was executing one of my best weekends of the year. That’s frustration number one.
“Frustration number two is racing a guy that it’s not the first time we see him exposing himself to having an incident with another driver.
“I’ve raced multiple guys around this track in Turn 1 and multiple quality guys that allow for a side-by-side movement like that in a beautiful corner. Today, I chose to have that side-by-side line with someone that prefers not to have it and prefers to risk an incident and risk losing so many points.
“It’s very frustrating, very disappointed but on top of that to get a 10-second penalty is something unacceptable, something I don’t understand.”
Lawson was also left frustrated by the incident on a weekend when team mate Isack Hadjar scored his maiden Formula 1 podium.
But the Kiwi believed he did nothing wrong in regard to the current regulations.
“It just sucks for both of us. It’s obviously not my intention but it’s lap one on a restart and we have very low grip going into Turn 1, said Lawson.
“The rules are written as they are and we all know how they’re written so as much as we sometimes don’t agree with it, I’ve been on the receiving end of it as well this year and I disagree with it as well, but that’s how they are.
“For it to be his corner, he has to be ahead at the apex; he wasn’t anywhere near that today so that’s why he got a penalty for it I’m guessing. It just sucks for us but obviously for Isack on the other side of the garage, to have a podium is very cool.”
