FIA criticised for 'embarrassing' Dutch GP penalty

1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has launched stern criticism at the race stewards after Carlos Sainz was penalised at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Sainz attempted an overtake around the outside of Liam Lawson at Turn 1 amid a safety car restart.

However, after Lawson endured a minor slide in low-grip conditions, contact was made between the pair, resulting in damage for both drivers.

Sainz was deemed at fault for the incident and was subsequently issued a 10-second time penalty, as well as two penalty points on his super licence.

Sainz was highly critical of the decision, with Villeneuve also questioning the stewards' reasoning for the punishment.

“The penalty was embarrassing for the FIA,” Villeneuve told Sky F1. 

“On what planet do you judge that as creating a collision, bad driving or dangerous driving? Come on.

“You’re on the outside. The guy on the inside clearly slides, he has a wiggle and slides into you. What are you supposed to do? It's ridiculous.”

Villeneuve stated the stewards have become too lenient on incidents that warrant penalties, pointing to Charles Leclerc's contact with George Russell during the race as an example.

“It’s okay to give a penalty when you really have dumb driving or dirty driving. They never give penalties for that.

“You see some moves down the straight just before the brakes. Leclerc did one, it was too late.

“Those moves deserve penalties because they have to stop. They're dangerous, and they stop good racing.

“But pure racing incidents, you want them to be on the edge, and sometimes it won't work out.

“You shouldn't give a penalty for that. He was just driving nicely around the outside.”

Villeneuve's criticism of the stewards extended to the Canadian, suggesting they simply roll a dice to decide which driver to penalise.

“It’s as if they throw the dice and say, ‘Okay, who are we going to give a penalty? There was contact, who are we going to give it to? 1, 2 and 3 is this [driver], 4, 5 and 6 is the other one.

“It seems so random, it’s ridiculous.”