Davidson, Button react to Colapinto's 'scary' Australian GP start near-miss

Former F1 drivers Anthony Davidson and Jenson Button expressed shock and admiration after reviewing Franco Colapinto's miraculous avoidance of a massive crash at the start of the Australian Grand Prix, where he narrowly missed a stationary Liam Lawson and the pit wall.

Why it matters:

Race starts are one of the most dangerous moments in Formula 1, where a single mechanical failure can turn a car into a stationary roadblock for the field. Colapinto's split-second reaction and car control prevented what could have been a high-speed, multi-car accident, highlighting the razor-thin margin between a racing incident and a serious shunt.

The details:

• The incident occurred when Liam Lawson's RB suffered a complete power loss at the start from P8, leaving his car barely moving as the lights went out.
• Starting from P16, Franco Colapinto was accelerating rapidly and found himself suddenly bearing down on Lawson's stationary car with limited space to react.
• Cat-like Reactions: Reviewing the onboard footage, Anthony Davidson marveled at Colapinto's instinctive move, swerving sharply to the right to avoid Lawson's rear wheel and the pit wall in one fluid motion. Davidson called the avoidance "amazing" and something he "could watch a thousand times over."
• Driver's Perspective: Jenson Button, a former world champion, emphasized the terror of the moment from Colapinto's view, noting a driver doesn't see the stalled car until they are virtually on top of it. He labeled the moment "proper scary."
• The Fearful Reality: Both pundits echoed Martin Brundle's pre-race commentary that a standing start is a driver's most fearful time, knowing their car could fail and make them a target for the pack.

What's next:

While Lawson confirmed his power unit issue post-race, such starts serve as a stark reminder of the inherent risks in Formula 1. Teams and the FIA continuously work on safety protocols, but driver skill and reaction time remain the last line of defense in unpredictable situations like a stalled start. The incident will likely be studied as an exemplary case of avoidance, but the hope is that such close calls remain rare.