Liam Lawson has only participated in two Grand Prix races this year, but has already had two disputes with other drivers. During the race in Austin, it was Fernando Alonso who confronted him about his driving behavior, and in Mexico City, he had a run-in with Sergio Pérez. Lawson has since apologized for the incident with Checo, but also emphasizes that he did not come to Formula 1 to make friends.
“Of course, it is not my goal to make enemies or cause problems,” Liam Lawson told Sky Sports in the run-up to the São Paulo GP. “But at the same time, I’m not here to make friends; I’m here to win, and that’s where my focus lies.” The young New Zealander scored two points for Visa RB during his return in Austin, which is fighting for the sixth place in the championship.”We are fighting hard for P6 in the constructors’ championship, and personally, I am also fighting for my future in Formula 1,” he explained. Liam Lawson does not yet have a contract for the upcoming season – he can count on an extension at Visa RB, but there is also a potential driver change at Red Bull in the air. Both he and teammate Yuki Tsunoda are in contention for the coveted seat of Sergio Pérez, who is most likely to be sacrificed before the start of the new season.
The Middle Finger Incident
Last week, Lawson drew attention with his aggressive defensive tactics against Pérez. Eventually, there was contact between the two cars, causing both drivers to miss out on a top ten finish. The 22-year-old driver revealed that he later apologized for his unsportsmanlike behavior – Lawson had shown his middle finger to Checo. Nevertheless, he shows no remorse for his defensive strategy in Mexico City.
“We spoke briefly after the race,” Lawson said. “In the end, it was just a battle on the track – I obviously apologized for my behavior after the incident. Beyond that, we can simply consider this a racing incident,” he concluded. With the upcoming São Paulo GP, the Visa RB driver gets a new chance to prove himself to the Red Bull team management.
