Carlos Sainz to trigger rare GPDA action after 'unacceptable' Dutch GP penalty

Carlos Sainz is ready to use his role as the GPDA director after he received an 'unacceptable' penalty at the Dutch GP.

The Spanish driver had a disappointing race at Zandvoort, finishing 13th, while his teammate Alex Albon enjoyed an impressive fifth-placed finish. After Sainz and Liam Lawson collided following a safety car restart, Sainz was hit with a 10-second time penalty after the stewards ruled that Sainz was “wholly or predominantly to blame for the collision."

It angered the 31-year-old, who hit out at Lawson and said that incidents like that always happen when racing him. Now Sainz has said he will use his role as the GPDA director to try and improve stewarding within Formula 1.

He said: “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, 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.

“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.”

Williams driver Carlos Sainz. Image: NurPhoto / Contributor via Getty

What is a GPDA director?

The GPDA stands for the Grand Prix Drivers' Association and it is the official trade union body for Formula 1 drivers.

Although membership is voluntary, most drivers join the organisation, who then vote for their directors.

Currently Sainz and Mercedes driver George Russell serve as the driver representatives on the GDPA.

But Anastasia Fowle, who is a lawyer specialising in motorsport, also works as a director.

Previously Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel have all served as directors.

The organisation was founded in 1961, before it was disbanded in 1983 and refounded in 1994.

Since then they have organised several changes, including the introduction of the halo following Jules Bianchi's fatal crash at the 2014 Japanese GP.

Spanish driver Carlos Sainz. Image: Joe Portlock / Stringer via Getty

How did Sainz react to the Dutch GP incident?

Sainz and Lawson collided on lap 27 in wet conditions at Zandvoort, with the Spaniard blaming the Kiwi for the crash.

On Williams team radio Sainz said: "He's just so stupid. Oh my god. This guy, it's always the same guy."

When he heard he was to receive a penalty, Sainz reacted with fury.

"Who? Who gets a penalty? Me? You are joking. You are joking. It is the most ridiculous decision of my life," he said.

Sainz went on to finish 14th, one place behind Lawson.