Liam Lawson’s Dutch Grand Prix started with promise but ended in frustration after a costly clash with William’s Carlos Sainz.
The Kiwi lined up eighth on the grid following a strong qualifying effort, where he recovered from early oversteer in Q3 to post a lap just two-tenths shy of Charles Leclerc.
Settling into the midfield fight during the opening stages, Lawson held his ground in eighth place, keeping Sainz at bay while staying within reach of the top six.
His race looked to be coming together after the first round of pit stops, as well as being promoted to seventh place after Lewis Hamilton crashed out of the race, and a well-timed safety car brought him a “free pit stop. But on the restart, everything unravelled.
At Turn 1, Lawson and Sainz made contact, leaving the Racing Bulls driver with no left-rear tyre and forcing both cars into the pits with Sainz requiring a new front wing as well as a new set of tyres.
An enraged Sainz vented his anger over team radio, blasting: “He’s just so stupid. Oh my god. This guy, it’s always the same guy.”
Both drivers rejoined the race a lap down, but Lawson’s hopes of points were gone. After reviewing the incident, race control placed the blame on Sainz, handing him a 10-second penalty for causing the collision.
“Are you joking? You’re joking, I mean, it’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in my life” Sainz responds when informed about his penalty.
“Make sure we go visit the stewards after the race. I want to have a talk with them” Sainz added.
For Lawson, it was a bitter end to what had been shaping up as another consistent weekend, his strong qualifying pace and racecraft undone by circumstances outside his control.
Header Image: Joe Portlock/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool
It was Lawson’s fault, not even 50/50