Former Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg expressed disbelief that Carlos Sainz was not penalised after a collision with Oliver Bearman during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Instead, it was Bearman who received a 10-second time penalty for the incident, a ruling that left Rosberg baffled amidst growing tension over the race stewards’ judgment.
The clash occurred at the second chicane, where Bearman attempted an ambitious pass down the inside of Sainz. Contact between Bearman’s right front tyre and Sainz’s rear left wheel caused both cars to spin briefly before continuing, with Sainz finishing just ahead in 11th place and Bearman penalised post-race.
Details of the Controversial Incident at the Second Chicane
The intense moment unfolded as Bearman closed in beside Sainz, aiming to overtake through Monza’s tight chicane. Their cars made contact as Bearman’s front right tire grazed Sainz’s rear left. This physical clash sent both drivers spinning simultaneously, disrupting their momentum on the track.
Following the collision, race officials reviewed the incident and ultimately handed Bearman a 10-second penalty, judging him responsible for the contact. However, Rosberg strongly disagreed with this outcome while providing live commentary for Sky F1, immediately voicing concern over the decision as presenter Natalie Pinkham sought his opinion.
“Carlos Sainz needs to get a penalty!”
Rosberg declared unequivocally. He emphasised that Bearman had “half a car’s length” alongside Sainz at the point of contact, suggesting the Spaniard should have yielded space rather than holding his line aggressively.
“Why doesn’t Carlos Sainz just leave a bit of space? Like, give me a reason. He’s in there, so leave some space, and then nothing happens and it’s all good.”
—Nico Rosberg, Former Formula 1 World Champion
Supporting Rosberg’s viewpoint, Williams development driver Jamie Chadwick also criticised the penalty’s fairness, asserting that Bearman was unfairly punished given his position on the inside line. She suggested both drivers shared some responsibility but indicated that Sainz could have avoided the clash by giving more room.
“It shouldn’t have been a 10-second penalty for Ollie Bearman at all, to be honest.”
—Jamie Chadwick, Williams Development Driver
“I think the incident could have been avoided. I think for both of them. In that instance, I think Carlos probably could have given a bit more room.”
—Jamie Chadwick, Williams Development Driver
Comparing Sainz’s and Albon’s Performances Amidst Championship Struggles
This controversy comes amid a difficult period for Carlos Sainz, who has now gone five Grands Prix without scoring any championship points and currently sits 18th in the Drivers’ Championship. In stark contrast, his Williams teammate Alex Albon secured seventh place at Monza, marking his fourth points finish in the last five races and lifting him to seventh in the standings with 70 points—significantly ahead of Sainz’s 16.
Rosberg highlighted this disparity, praising Albon for his consistent and impressive form, while openly criticising Sainz’s struggles during his debut season with Williams.
“Alex again, just such an awesome weekend. He just keeps delivering. It’s so great to see.”
—Nico Rosberg, Former Formula 1 World Champion
“Overtaking Sainz, and let’s also mention, that it’s kind of the same story. It’s kind of representative of the whole season, because Alex, again, phenomenally strong, and Sainz, again, messes up completely, crashes, and no points.”
—Nico Rosberg, Former Formula 1 World Champion
Contrasting Views on the Incident from Sainz and Media Analysts
After escaping penalty for the Monza clash, Sainz defended his actions and offered his perspective on the event, differing from the opinions of Rosberg and Chadwick. Speaking to PlanetF1.com’s Thomas Maher and other journalists, Sainz argued that he had provided sufficient space on the inside, which led to the stewards penalising Bearman instead.
“I think I left a car’s width on the inside,”
Sainz stated, explaining why he believed the penalty was justified.
He elaborated that he braked very late on the outside, making it difficult for Bearman, who was positioned on the inside, to avoid contact.
“I think it’s just a typical Monza incident. One of the two needs to back out. I was in front at the apex. He decided not to back out of the move. Typical Monza.”
—Carlos Sainz, Williams Driver
Implications for Future Races and Championship Battle
The Monza collision adds to the ongoing debates about stewarding consistency and racing incidents in this intense 2025 Formula 1 season, especially with key drivers like Sainz under increasing pressure due to poor recent form. Rosberg’s outspoken criticism raises questions about fairness in penalty decisions and whether drivers are being held accountable evenly.
With Albon outperforming his teammate and climbing steadily in the championship rankings, the internal dynamics within Williams could come under scrutiny, while Sainz looks to recover momentum in upcoming Grands Prix.
The stewards’ approach at Monza, coupled with contrasting opinions from former champions and current drivers, signals that similar incidents will continue to be hot topics as the season progresses, impacting both race outcomes and championship trajectories.
