Marko: “Lawson should not drive as aggressively as he did”
The Austrian driver commented on the incident between Liam Lawson and Sergio Perez at the start of the race. According to him, the New Zealander had a defense that was too rough against the Mexican, which led to extensive damage on the Red Bull.
It is a battle that was not only taking place on the track. Although all the attention was focused on the Norris-Verstappen duel at the start of the race, another intense struggle took place a few laps later: that between Liam Lawson and Sergio Perez. While this battle was only for tenth place, it was nevertheless highly symbolic, as the two drivers were unofficially vying for the second seat at Red Bull for 2025. A deep rivalry that materialized during the race.
A Lawson-Perez collision
On the 18th lap, the Mexican, who had started only 18th after another failed qualifying session, had already moved up to eleventh place and was threatening the Racing Bulls of the former Formula 2 driver promoted to replace Daniel Ricciardo. At turn 4, he tried to overtake him on the inside. However, Lawson did not give up and ended up keeping his position after closing the door on Perez. The two drivers even touched at the next corner, causing damage to the floor and sidepods of the Mexican’s car, running at home. The Mexican quickly radioed in, calling the New Zealander an idiot. After the race, Perez addressed this incident and questioned Lawson’s attitude since his return to Formula 1.
« I maneuvered in turn 4 and he ended up off the track and continued straight as if there were no car. I think he could have avoided the incident but he went back into it. Luckily, I saw him and opened up, otherwise there would have been a huge accident. It was not necessary. We ruined our two races. It was a bit too much. […] When you arrive in Formula 1, you are obviously very motivated, but you also have to be respectful, on and off the track. I don’t think he has the right attitude. » These remarks were later echoed by Helmut Marko, advisor and head of the young driver program for the Milton Keynes team.
Helmut Marko questions Lawson’s aggressiveness.
We are sister teams, and Lawson should not have driven as aggressively as he did,” the Austrian explained on ESPN. “He [Lawson] reacted too violently. A maneuver deemed dangerous by the New Zealander, costing precious points to Perez and especially to Red Bull in the constructors’ championship, with the Austrian team now trailing McLaren by 54 points and having lost its second place to Ferrari. “You can’t judge his performance because his car was so damaged. There was no way he could drive to the limit. And then Checo, with the collision with Lawson, there was significant damage. He lost about 60 points of aerodynamic downforce. So, the car was far from competitive.”
At the same time, Lawson defended himself against the accusations, considering that he had given Perez enough space. “I left him space in turn four. He arrived very, very late. I tried to give him space, he pushed me off the track and then he didn’t leave me any space in turn five. It’s a shame. It wasn’t my intention, but I didn’t know where to go,” explained the former Carlin driver to the media, including Motors Inside, after the race. Nevertheless, he later apologized for his behavior during the Grand Prix when he raised a middle finger while overtaking the Mexican.
A misplaced gesture
With the damage to Perez’s car, Lawson was able to easily overtake the Red Bull on the straight. Still frustrated from the battle, the rookie showed his middle finger for several seconds to Perez during the overtake. Quite surprising for a driver who has just arrived in the team.
The New Zealander recognized his wrongs.
« It is obviously one of those things that happen in the heat of the moment. He spent half of the race trying to block me and ruin my race. So I was upset, but it’s not an excuse. I shouldn’t have done it and I apologize. I don’t think that’s what Helmut likes. It’s not in my nature, it’s not something I should have done. » Ultimately finishing sixteenth and seventeenth in the race, unfortunately, the two drivers did not achieve the expected results.
The situation is nevertheless much more complicated for Perez who seems more and more on the hot seat, even if the Mexican once again indicated on Canal+ microphone that he will be present on the grid next year. Now remains to be seen if Red Bull will maintain the same stance.
