The FIA has set the date and time for the appeal filed by Williams to be reviewed by Formula 1 stewards. Williams initiated the right of review process following the penalty issued to Carlos Sainz at the recent Dutch Grand Prix.
Sainz expressed frustration at Zandvoort after being penalized for a collision with Liam Lawson, receiving a 10-second time penalty and two points on his racing license. The Spanish driver contested the decision on the radio and met with the stewards post-race. Williams officially requested a right of review hearing at the Italian Grand Prix.
The FIA confirmed that the hearing is scheduled for Friday, September 12, at 2:30 pm UK time. The delay is to allow the Zandvoort stewards to convene virtually via video conference for the meeting.
Although the time penalty cannot be overturned as Sainz already served it during a pit stop, Williams aims to appeal the two penalty points on his license. Team principal James Vowles seeks clarity for future racing decisions through open communication with the stewards.
Historically, winning a right of review hearing has been challenging, with the FIA often not upholding such requests. The upcoming hearing will follow a two-part format, requiring significant new evidence to be presented by the Williams team representative to the stewards.
In the event that the stewards find compelling new elements, a Racing Bulls representative will also participate in the hearing on behalf of Lawson and his team. Williams currently holds the fifth position in the constructors’ championship with 86 points, while Racing Bulls, in seventh place with 61 points, aims to challenge them in the ongoing season.