Lawson Perplexed by Lindblad Collision in Baku: 'It Sucks for Our Race'

Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad of Racing Bulls had an unexpected coming together at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which left Lawson scratching his head over the incident. Both drivers had been eyeing a double points finish after recovering from a Q2 exit, thanks to a well-timed pit stop under the Safety Car.

However, things took a turn when Lindblad attempted an inside move at Turn 1 during the restart, tapping the rear of Lawson's car and sending him into a spin. This mishap dropped Lawson down the order, ultimately finishing in P12. "I need to watch it back," Lawson remarked post-race. "We were all coming into Turn 1, and I just got hit from my left. It put a hole in my floor. I don’t know what gap he was aiming for. It’s great for the team’s points, but it really sucks for our race."

Lindblad, reflecting on the incident, felt that he was left with no alternative but to attempt the move. "It was chaotic heading into Turn 1," he explained. "Everyone was moving a lot. I did apologize to Liam and the team because we could have both been up there today."

Despite the clash, Lindblad managed to finish P7, narrowly overtaking Haas' Esteban Ocon at the line. This result was a boon in the midfield battle, particularly with Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto retiring after their own collision. "On the bright side, we scored points," Lindblad noted. "It’s been a tough weekend, but to score points while our rivals are out is amazing. The pace matters, but it’s the points that count in the end."

Lawson, while disappointed with his race outcome, acknowledged the team's fortune. "We got lucky today," he admitted. "They were much quicker than us all weekend. We need to turn it around next week."

Ultimately, the Racing Bulls duo was left to reflect on a weekend of mixed fortunes in Baku, with the focus shifting to understanding and resolving the challenges they faced.