Liam Lawson: RB driver says he’s not in F1 ‘to make friends’ after Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso clash | F1 News

Liam Lawson says he is “not here to make friends” in Formula 1 after being involved in a confrontation at consecutive race weekends on his return to the grid.

After replacing Daniel Ricciardo at RB for the final six rounds of the 2024 season, Lawson was involved in a battle with two-time world champion Fernando Alonso at the United States Grand Prix, before colliding with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez at the Mexico City Grand Prix. .

The latter of the two incidents is particularly important, as there is much speculation that Lawson will replace Perez at Red Bull next season even though the 22-year-old New Zealander is yet to be confirmed for the 2025 seat.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Lawson said Sky Sports F1: “Obviously, my goal is not to go out and make anybody’s enemies, I’m not trying to cause trouble or anything.

“But at the same time, I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to win, and that’s what I want.

“And in this situation, we are fighting hard for P6 in the Constructors, and I am also fighting for my future in Formula 1, so I am focused.”

The friction between Lawson and Alonso began with a fight in the Austin Sprint, with the confrontation spilling over to qualifying later in the day. Lawson then said Alonso threatened to “steal” him.

Then in Mexico City in Perez’s home race, Lawson collided with a Red Bull on lap 19, and later in the race made an obscene gesture while passing him.

Asked if he felt there was any personal animosity towards Alonso or Perez, Lawson added: “I don’t know. I don’t think there’s anything behind it.

“Obviously, at the moment, things got very heated, and obviously I apologize for what I did last week.

“It’s not something I should have done and I won’t do it again. I don’t know about his mindset or his goals, I just focus on me.”

Lawson told Perez the conversation in Mexico

Lawson said he spoke to Perez in Mexico after the race and apologized for the move he made while overtaking, but did not feel responsible as the collision was his alone.

“Yeah, for a while we talked after the race but at the same time, we left the track too early, right after,” said Lawson.

“It was a fight on the track, and I apologize, obviously, for what I did after it happened. – it was a time of war.”

While Red Bull Racing and RB are officially separate teams, in reality they share the same ownership and the junior squad is used as a testing ground for driver prospects for the senior team, meaning that collisions between drivers are rare – and frowned upon by the teams. boss.

Lawson said: “It was clear that the target was not going to hit any car, but especially a Red Bull car.

“And obviously that’s not my target right now, I’m trying to avoid it.

“So looking back, maybe there were things I could have done differently. I could have cut the chicane and avoided it completely, but now, I’m also racing and you have a few seconds to make a decision.

“It’s something I’ve talked to the team about and reflected on, and I’ll learn about it this weekend.”

Sao Paulo GP schedule live Sky Sports F1

Friday November 1st
2pm: Sao Paulo GP Practice One (session starts at 2.30pm)
16.30: Team Leader’s Press Conference
6pm: Sprint GP Sao Paulo Qualifying (qualifying starts at 6.30pm*)

Saturday 2 November
13:00 Sao Paulo GP Sprint build-up
2pm: Sao Paulo GP Sprint
15.30: Notebook Sprint Ted
5pm: Qualifying Sao Paulo builds
6pm: Sao Paulo GP Qualifying
8pm: Ted’s Qualification Notebook

Sunday November 3rd
15:30: Grand Prix Sunday: Sao Paulo GP build-up
5pm: THE SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX
19:00: Checkered Flag: Reaction to GP Sao Paulo
8pm: Ted’s Notebook

*also live on Sky Sports Main Event

America’s Formula 1 triple header concludes this weekend with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with every session live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with Sports Month Membership NOW – No contract, cancel anytime