FIA Adds Penalty Point to Liam Lawson's Superlicence After Abu Dhabi Incident with Bearman

Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson received an additional penalty point on his F1 superlicence for erratic defensive maneuvers against Haas' Oliver Bearman during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, pushing his 12-month tally to six points. The incident—Lawson's second with Bearman this season—carries significant implications as drivers face suspension at 12 points, with Lawson now operating dangerously close to the limit.

Why it matters:

Lawson's position becomes increasingly precarious with six penalty points accumulated in just eight months, leaving minimal margin for error over the next two races in the 12-month evaluation window. This incident reinforces concerns about his defensive judgment, particularly following a similar clash with Bearman at the Brazilian Grand Prix sprint where both drivers received penalty points. With the threshold for suspension looming, every on-track decision now carries amplified consequences for the New Zealander's racing future.

The details:

• Stewards penalized Lawson for "several erratic moves between turns 8 and 9" while defending against Bearman's Haas, citing in-car video evidence that showed inconsistent line changes during the approach phase.
• The driver accepted responsibility post-race, acknowledging: "I moved quite late so it was probably my bad. It wasn't intentional, but I guess that's why I got the penalty."
• Historical context: This marks Lawson's fourth penalty point in 2025 alone, with previous infractions including a Brazilian GP sprint race collision with Bearman (both received points) and practice session violations at Silverstone.
• Current standing: His six-point total puts him just six points away from the automatic one-race ban threshold, matching the tally that triggered Kevin Magnussen's suspension in 2024.
• Race impact: The five-second penalty dropped Lawson to 18th place (a lap down), while Bearman narrowly missed points in 12th—highlighting how marginal incidents can significantly affect race outcomes.

What's next:

The immediate focus shifts to how Racing Bulls manages Lawson's defensive approach in high-pressure situations, particularly with Arvid Lindblad confirmed as his 2026 teammate. While the team secured sixth in the constructors' championship—their best result since 2021 as AlphaTauri—the organization faces balancing driver development with regulatory compliance.

• Lawson must navigate two remaining races within the current 12-month window (extending to mid-2026) without further infractions to avoid suspension.
• Technical directors will likely implement additional defensive driving protocols during team briefings, focusing on consistent racing lines during overtaking scenarios.
• With Red Bull retaining Lawson at Racing Bulls while promoting Lindblad, the pressure intensifies for the Kiwi driver to demonstrate improved racecraft ahead of potential future opportunities at the senior team.