Liam Lawson, driving for Racing Bulls, secured a seventh-place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on Sunday, October 4, 2026. The New Zealander’s performance included an early race battle with Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, an incident that has drawn attention to the perceived unwritten rules within the Red Bull motorsport family.
Lawson started the race from 11th on the grid at the Sepang International Circuit. He made a strong start, capitalising on the wet conditions by using intermediate tyres, which propelled him to fourth position on the opening lap.
During this initial surge, Lawson found himself alongside Max Verstappen at Turn 1, challenging for third place. Verstappen, who ultimately won the race, managed to retain his position.
The incident highlights an implicit understanding within the Red Bull stable, where drivers from the junior Racing Bulls team are generally expected not to aggressively challenge their counterparts from the senior Red Bull Racing squad.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has previously voiced concerns regarding the on-track interactions between the two Red Bull-owned teams. He cited an earlier incident in Miami involving Verstappen and Lawson, questioning the perceived leniency in how such situations are handled.
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has acknowledged these criticisms, stating that the organisation is open to considering tighter regulations if voted for by the wider Formula 1 community. This indicates an awareness of the ongoing debate surrounding dual-team ownership.
The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia itself was marked by chaotic conditions. The start was delayed by over 90 minutes due to heavy rain and subsequent software issues affecting several cars on the formation lap.
Lawson also encountered a significant technical challenge during the race, experiencing a complete loss of radio communication with his team during the formation lap. He described this as ‘the most alone I’ve ever felt’ while navigating the confusing circumstances.
Despite the early battle and technical issues, Lawson maintained a strong pace. He gradually dropped back as the track dried and faster cars recovered, but ultimately secured a valuable P7 finish, earning six championship points.
Max Verstappen’s victory at Sepang marked his first win of the 2026 Formula 1 season. He overcame a challenging start, including initial power issues, to take the chequered flag.
Lawson expressed satisfaction with his result, noting that while he felt they deserved more, the team benefited from some late retirements among other competitors. He also praised his strong start as a key factor in his performance.
