F1 fans stunned by Kimi Antonelli decision as Carlos Sainz blasts stewards at the Dutch Grand Prix

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Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Williams driver Carlos Sainz won’t want to remember the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix in a hurry.

Oscar Piastri extended his lead in the drivers’ championship after completing the first Grand Slam of his Formula 1 career at the Dutch Grand Prix.

However, all the drama unfolded behind him, with Lando Norris suffering a mechanical failure late in the race, allowing Isack Hadjar to score the first podium of his Formula 1 career.

Ferrari had a race to forget with Lewis Hamilton crashing on lap 23, and teammate Charles Leclerc suffering the same fate at the same corner later in the race.

Leclerc was helped into the barriers by Kimi Antonelli, who misjudged his move on the Monegasque driver and sent his Mercedes into the side of his Ferrari.

Carlos Sainz then tangled with Liam Lawson after the safety car restart, and he was penalised for his move, which ultimately cost him and Williams a decent points haul.

David Croft suggested Sainz had created a problem for Williams ahead of the race weekend, but his anger was directed at the stewards after they made a decision he simply couldn’t believe following his contact with the Racing Bulls driver.

READ MORE: Know all about 2025 Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli including stats

Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz penalised during the Dutch Grand Prix

Antonelli’s crash with Leclerc earned him a 10-second penalty, and reflecting on the incident on Sky Sports F1 (31/8 3:15 pm), Karun Chandhok said: “Antonelli can see Leclerc coming out of the pits and instead of taking the conventional line, Antonelli’s gone for a lunge down the inside and just understeered.

“Unfortunately, he’s going to have to carry the can for that.

“He’s just gone in for a lunge and just understeered into Leclerc.”

Leclerc’s radio after the incident was telling, and he admitted: “I think that was unnecessary. I mean, we can never know what happened, but the tyres felt good anyway. The tyres felt good. Anyway, I’m getting out.”

When Sainz was then told about his 10-second penalty over the team radio, he said: “Who gets a penalty? Me?

“Are you joking? You’re joking. I mean… It’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in my life.

“Make sure we go and visit the stewards after the race.”

After the race, Sainz spoke to the media and elaborated on his point: “It’s a complete joke.

“Honestly, I need to go now to the stewards just to get an explanation, to see what is the point of view of the incident.

“Because it’s unacceptable, I think it’s not the level of stewarding of Formula 1 if they are really considering that to be a 10-second penalty on my behalf.

“I think it’s a serious matter now that concerns me as a driver, as a GPDA director, and something that I will make sure I raise.”

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F1 fans can’t believe Carlos Sainz and Kimi Antonelli received the same penalty at the Dutch Grand Prix

Plenty of Formula 1 fans reacted to both incidents, and the overwhelming consensus was that Sainz and Antonelli should not have been given the same punishment.

Antonelli ended Leclerc’s race, while Sainz was arguably not even at fault for his contact with Lawson.

One fan said: “10s penalty for that, Carlos gets the same for doing nothing.”

Another comment read about Antonelli’s mistake: “Terrible attempt at an overtake. Never on,” while one fan offered an explanation and said: “Cold tyres, terrible performance.”

“Rookie move,” read another comment, while one person reasoned: “They’re not fair, Carlos gets [a] 10 [second penalty] and Antonelli takes a car out of the race and only [gets a] 10 [second penalty]?”

“Antonelli’s fault without a shadow of a doubt,” suggested another fan, while a final comment said: “The other day, he did the same to Max… Kimi, I love you, but you really need to drive better. It’s becoming jarring.”

Antonelli needs to start scoring points soon, as Sainz’s teammate Alex Albon has now matched him in the drivers’ championship.

For Sainz, 2025 can’t come to an end soon enough, with next year’s regulation changes giving him hope after leaving Ferrari last season.