Lawson Admits He Braced for Major Crash After Australian GP Start Failure

Liam Lawson revealed he was "braced" for a high-speed impact after a dramatic start-line failure at the Australian Grand Prix, narrowly avoiding a massive crash thanks to Franco Colapinto's quick reactions. The incident has amplified driver concerns over the inconsistent and potentially dangerous launch procedures with F1's new-generation power units.

Why it matters:

A stalled car on a crowded grid is one of the most dangerous scenarios in motorsport. With drivers accelerating from a standstill with limited visibility, such failures can easily trigger catastrophic multi-car pileups. This near-miss highlights a growing safety concern as teams continue to grapple with the complexities of the new power units, putting pressure on the FIA to review procedures.

The details:

• The Incident: Lawson's Racing Bulls car was slow to launch when the lights went out in Melbourne, creating a dangerous obstacle for the midfield pack.
• Close Call: Alpine's Franco Colapinto, starting directly behind, took last-second evasive action, swerving from the left to the right of Lawson's car to avoid a direct rear-impact at high speed.
• Driver Reaction: Lawson praised Colapinto's "very impressive" and "very good reactions," admitting he was already bracing for impact in the cockpit. "I was sure he was going to hit me," Lawson stated.
• Root Cause: Lawson pointed to ongoing struggles with the pre-start procedure for the new car, describing it as "very complicated" and leading to "very inconsistent" launches. He noted the team sometimes sits for 10 seconds trying to initiate the sequence.
• Wider Concern: The New Zealander joined other drivers in voicing alarm, calling the current situation "quite dangerous" and stating such an incident is "so easy to happen." He emphasized that without Colapinto's avoidance, it would have been a "really, really big crash."

What's next:

The ball is now in the FIA's court. Drivers are unified in their concern and are providing feedback, but any changes to procedures or technical regulations rest with the governing body.

• Lawson confirmed that while drivers will give their opinions, "it's up to the FIA if they want to change something."
• Teams will continue working to understand and stabilize their start procedures, but the inherent risk during this adaptation phase remains a point of tension.
• This incident will likely be a key topic in future F1 Commission and Technical Advisory Committee meetings as the sport balances innovation with fundamental safety.