Liam Lawson voiced significant frustration following his collision with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls teammate Arvid Lindblad during the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, September 26, left Lawson’s car damaged and compromised his race, leading him to question the stewards’ subsequent ruling.
The collision unfolded on Lap 36 of the race, immediately after a Safety Car restart. As the field approached Turn 1, Lindblad locked his brakes and made contact with Lawson’s car.
This contact was part of a chain reaction stemming from a separate multi-car incident ahead, involving Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly, and McLaren’s Lando Norris. Lindblad stated he was reacting to the chaos.
Lawson’s car sustained significant floor damage from the impact, sending him into a spin and severely hindering his performance. He ultimately finished the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 12th position, outside the points.
Race stewards investigated the intra-team incident but decided against penalising Lindblad. They classified it as a racing incident, citing the restricted space available to Lindblad and the chain reaction caused by the preceding crash.
Lawson expressed his bewilderment over the decision. ‘I just don’t understand,’ he stated, adding that the incident ‘sucks for our race’ given the damage incurred. On team radio, he was heard saying, ‘I love getting taken out by my teammate, that’s pretty sick.’
Lindblad, who continued the race and finished seventh, apologised to Lawson and the team. He described the situation at Turn 1 as an ‘absolute mess,’ attributing his actions to the chaotic restart conditions.
Former F1 World Champion Damon Hill also commented on the incident, suggesting Lindblad should have exercised better judgment. Hill indicated that Lindblad ought to have known there was no clear space for such a manoeuvre.
The 2026 Visa Cash App Racing Bulls driver lineup consists of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad. Lindblad’s seventh-place finish secured six points for the team in Baku.
Despite a challenging weekend for the team in terms of overall pace, Racing Bulls Team Principal Alan Permane noted the team’s ability to capitalise on opportunities. The focus now shifts to understanding performance for upcoming races in Malaysia and Singapore.
