Lawson Dismisses Brown Collusion Claim, Calls It a Team Mistake

Liam Lawson has pushed back against Zak Brown's claim that Racing Bulls' radio instruction to let Max Verstappen through during the Miami Grand Prix was evidence of collusion between Red Bull-owned teams. The RB driver insists it was simply a mistake made in the heat of the moment—one the team would not repeat.

Why it matters:

Brown's letter to the FIA, citing this incident alongside Daniel Ricciardo's fastest-lap intervention in Singapore 2024, reignites the debate over multi-team ownership in Formula 1. If the sport's governing body takes action, it could reshape how Red Bull, AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls), and other affiliated squads operate. Lawson’s clarification offers a counter-narrative, but the underlying tension remains.

The details:

• The incident: At Miami's Turn 11, Lawson and Verstappen made contact, with both running off track. Lawson emerged ahead, but his engineer immediately ordered him to give the position back.
• Lawson's reaction: He was confused, replying, "Drove into the side of me. I don't understand," but complied.
• Brown's accusation: The McLaren CEO used the Miami radio exchange in a letter arguing for a ban on team ownership structures that create "alliances" compromising the sport's integrity.
• Lawson's explanation: "We made a mistake. If it had been any other car, the decision would have been the same. In the short time to decide, the team thought I was at fault. We wouldn't make the same call again."

What's next:

The FIA has yet to respond publicly to Brown's letter. Meanwhile, the Canadian Grand Prix weekend continues, with no further action expected on this matter. But the underlying question—whether F1 needs to unwind existing team affiliations—will not disappear quickly.