Lawson Fumes Over Sainz Collision: 'It's My F***ing Corner'

Liam Lawson expressed his intense frustration after a collision with Carlos Sainz at the Safety Car restart during the Dutch Grand Prix. The incident, which was not fully televised, led to punctures for both drivers and reignited an ongoing rivalry.

Why it matters

The clash between Liam Lawson and Carlos Sainz not only ruined both drivers' races but also highlighted underlying tensions between the two. While Lawson missed out on points, the Racing Bulls team celebrated a significant milestone with Isack Hadjar's podium finish, providing a much-needed morale boost.

The Incident

• Collision at Restart: At the Safety Car restart, Lawson and Sainz made contact, resulting in punctures for both, forcing them into the pits and putting them a lap down.
• Stewards' Verdict: Race stewards deemed Sainz "wholly or predominantly to blame" for the contact, issuing him a 10-second penalty and two licence points.
• Lawson's Outburst: Team radio captured Lawson's immediate frustration, stating, "I have a puncture, mate," followed by a furious, "Yeah. Mate, the guy’s giving me the thumbs up like it’s my fault. It’s my f***ing corner."
• Sainz's Reaction: Sainz vehemently disagreed with the penalty, calling it "a complete joke" and "the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in my life" over the radio.

History of Tensions

This isn't the first time Lawson and Sainz have clashed. At last year’s Mexico City Grand Prix, Sainz accused Lawson of ignoring blue flags while he was leading for Ferrari. Lawson was cleared of any wrongdoing, but the incident foreshadowed their renewed rivalry in Zandvoort.

Driver Perspectives

• Sainz's View: Post-race, Sainz commented on his interactions with Lawson: "With Liam, it always seems to be very difficult to make that happen. He always seems to prefer to have a bit of contact and risk a DNF or a puncture like we did, than to actually accept having two cars side by side."
• Lawson's Defense: Lawson stood by the stewards' decision, asserting, "If it was my fault, I would have got a penalty. It’s super slippery, cold tyres and it’s fine to go for the move, but it’s just risky. In the end, we made contact, which was not ideal, but that’s why he got a penalty."

The Bigger Picture

The collision dropped Lawson to 12th, just ahead of Sainz, effectively ending his hopes for points. However, the team's spirits were lifted by teammate Isack Hadjar securing third place – Racing Bulls' first podium since 2021. Lawson acknowledged the importance of Hadjar's achievement: "It’s massive, obviously we’re pushing everybody here, and something like this could give that little bit of motivation to everybody to keep working hard."