Lawson Blames Sainz for Mexico DNF, Calls Out Marshal Incident

Liam Lawson's Mexican Grand Prix was a weekend to forget, ending prematurely due to a collision with Carlos Sainz and featuring a terrifying near-miss with marshals. The young driver strongly attributed his early retirement to Sainz's maneuver, which he claims 'destroyed' his RB car.

Why it matters:

Lawson's DNF marks his third consecutive race without points and his fifth non-finish of the year, hindering his efforts to establish himself in F1. The incident also highlights persistent concerns about track safety, particularly with marshals on an active circuit, drawing strong reactions from the driver and the broader F1 community.

The Details:

• Collision at Turn 1: Starting from 15th, Lawson had a strong launch, taking advantage of an opening on the outside of Turn 1. However, he described Sainz as cutting the chicane "without looking left," resulting in contact that "destroyed" the side of his car and forced retirement.
• Lawson's Perspective: "I left plenty of space next to Carlos, but then he decided to cut the chicane without looking left. This meant he drove into the side of me and unfortunately it destroyed the side of my car, meaning we had to retire."
• Team Principal's View: Team Principal Alan Permane confirmed the early end to Lawson's race, stating he "was taken out on the exit of Turn 1, costing him a huge amount of damage and resulting in us having to retire the car."
• Marshal Incident: Following the damage, Lawson narrowly avoided hitting marshals who were on track. He expressed extreme shock and anger over his team radio: "Oh my god, dude. I could have f***ing killed them, mate."
• Team Performance: The challenging weekend saw Lawson's teammate Isack Hadjar finish 13th after starting eighth, with Permane noting a lack of pace on race day for Hadjar.

The Big Picture:

Racing Bulls maintain sixth in the constructors' championship, holding a slim three-point lead over Aston Martin. Such incidents, whether driver-induced or safety-related, can have significant impacts on a team's championship standing as the season progresses. The marshal incident also reignites conversations about F1's safety protocols during active race conditions, especially when damaged cars are still circulating.

What's next:

Lawson and Racing Bulls will be looking to put the Mexico weekend behind them as they head into the Brazilian Grand Prix. The team aims to learn from the challenges faced and ensure a stronger performance in the upcoming sprint race format. Attention will also likely remain on the marshal incident, potentially prompting further review of safety procedures for on-track personnel.