“When you’re fighting for your seat, it’s not very smart behaviour,” remarked Max Verstappen after Liam Lawson refused to get out of his way during practice in Mexico last week.
A week later during the grand prix at Interlagos, Lawson was far more obliging. He dived out of Verstappen’s way when the Red Bull driver appeared in his mirrors. Lawson then made sure his Racing Bulls team – and perhaps more importantly its senior sibling Red Bull – did not overlook how helpful he’d been.It’s not uncommon to see drivers make way for their team mates when ordered to on the radio. In the same race Isack Hadjar slowed significantly to let Verstappen in the other Red Bull past.
Lawson, in theory at least, drives for a rival team and has no need to be helpful at all. But while a midfield team driver such as Lawson would likely see no benefit from wasting time and tyre life fighting one of the front-running cars, nor would they be expected to cost themselves time by slowing down. “Don’t lose time with him” is typical advice from race engineers.
Yet that is precisely what Lawson did. Racing Bulls made sure he was aware how quickly Verstappen was gaining on him. Then Lawson dived out of the way on the Reta Oposta back straight, slowing down so much he dropped down two gears and lost over one-and-a-half seconds.
Job done, he pointed out to race engineer Alexandre Iliopoulos he had not cost Verstappen any time:
| Lap: 9/71 LAW: 1’28.088 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iliopoulos | Copy. The car behind is now Max. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iliopoulos | Some cars around are struggling with tyres. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iliopoulos | Car behind is Max, two seconds. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iliopoulos | Feedback on balance when you can | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Well, it’s just graining, so I have no fronts, and the traction is really, really bad. Do you want me to try clear it? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 10/71 LAW: 1’27.900 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iliopoulos | Yes. Yes, we think that’s the best option. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iliopoulos | Engine braking eight if you want. Engine nine position three. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lap: 11/71 LAW: 1’29.516 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iliopoulos | Push toggle last corner if you want. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iliopoulos | Lawson pulls over, slows down and lets Verstappen pass him Car behind, Piastri, one second, and Hulkenberg is six behind you. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lawson | Yep, I let him go. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iliopoulos | Copy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Lawson is still waiting to learn if he will remain at Red Bull’s junior team next year. He clearly wanted to demonstrate he is ready to help Racing Bulls’ sister team.
He was much more prepared to fight his corner in Miami earlier this year, when he challenged Racing Bulls’ order that he let Verstappen past.
But Lawson’s eagerness to show his worth to Red Bull also highlights how unusual their arrangement with their junior team is. One driver pulling over and slowing down so blatantly to let a driver from a rival team overtake him – and then drawing attention to it – would be astonishing if it involved any other pair of teams on the grid.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and