Lawson praises Colapinto's 'impressive' crash avoidance in Melbourne

Liam Lawson has hailed Franco Colapinto's lightning-fast reaction to avoid a massive crash at the start of the Australian Grand Prix as "very impressive," while highlighting a recurring and dangerous issue with his car's race starts. The Racing Bulls driver's car bogged down off the line, nearly causing a high-speed collision that was only averted by Colapinto's swift evasive maneuver.

Why it matters:

Race starts are one of the most critical and dangerous moments in Formula 1, where milliseconds and split-second decisions separate a clean getaway from a race-ending crash. Lawson's repeated issues with launch consistency pose a significant safety risk not just for him, but for every driver around him on the grid, underscoring a technical problem that needs urgent attention before it results in a serious incident.

The details:

• At the start in Melbourne, Lawson's Racing Bulls car suffered a poor launch, leaving it moving significantly slower than the pack.
• Alpine's Franco Colapinto, starting directly behind, was suddenly faced with the gearbox of the slow-moving car and had to take immediate action to avoid a direct impact.
• In a move Lawson described as having "very good reactions," Colapinto swerved to the right, threading his car through a narrow gap between Lawson's car and the pit wall.
• Lawson admitted he had already braced for impact in the cockpit, believing a crash was inevitable. "I was sure he was going to hit me," he said, noting his surprise when Colapinto appeared on his right side instead.
• The New Zealander emphasized that the start issue "cost us the race" and stated the team must do everything possible to prevent a recurrence, not just for performance but for safety.

Between the lines:

Lawson's public comments carry a pointed message to both his team and the FIA. By stating the situation is "quite dangerous" and that a "really big crash" was narrowly avoided, he is applying pressure for a technical solution to his car's inconsistent launches. His remark that "it's up to the FIA" if they want to change anything suggests he believes the governing body should perhaps scrutinize or regulate start system reliability more closely if teams cannot solve the problem themselves. This incident moves the conversation from a simple performance flaw to a pressing safety concern.