Liam Lawson warns he must be 'careful' racing 'aggressive' Sergio Perez

Liam Lawson feels he must race Sergio Perez with more caution than other F1 drivers after their latest on-track clash during the sprint at the Canadian Grand Prix.

The tension between the pair has been simmering since Lawson took Perez's seat at Red Bull ahead of the 2025 season. Now racing for Cadillac, Perez has quickly reignited their rivalry.

Why it matters:

This rivalry goes beyond typical racing incidents. Lawson replaced Perez at Red Bull after months of speculation, and the Mexican driver's return to the grid with Cadillac has brought their personal contention back into the spotlight. Their clashes could have championship implications for both teams.

The details:

• Fighting through the field from the back of the grid in Montreal, Lawson encountered Perez at Turn 13 in an incident not shown on broadcast.
• Lawson told media, including RacingNews365: "Obviously, trying to come through the field from the back, and I just have to be careful when racing him. He's quite aggressive, so in the end, he pushed me off, and I just decided not to race him anymore. It's not really worth it for no points. But yeah, seems to be a thing when I race with him."
• The FIA stewards penalized Perez with a 10-second time penalty, dropping him from P11 to P14 at the chequered flag, with Lawson inheriting the position.
• The official document stated: "Car 30 was attempting to overtake Car 11 on the straight before Turn 13. Car 11 moved to the right of the track, then moved back to the left, forcing Car 30 off the track."
• This follows their earlier clash at the Australian Grand Prix, where a robust fight also occurred, though Lawson declined to comment at the time.

What's next:

With both drivers now established on the grid, their rivalry shows no signs of cooling. Lawson's public warning suggests he will approach future battles with Perez more cautiously, but the tension is likely to produce more fireworks when they next meet on track.