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Liam Lawson’s return to the Formula 1 grid is one of the major storylines as the season winds down. The young driver stepped in for an injured Daniel Ricciardo a year ago at AlphaTauri, but returned to the grid a few weeks ago when Ricciardo was sidelined by Visa Cash App RB F1 Team.
However, Lawson is not making friends now that he is back on the grid, and in his words, that is not his job.
Lawson’s on-track battle with Sergio Pérez in last week’s Mexico City Grand Prix was a massive talking point in the hours after the race, with the veteran Red Bull driver blasting Lawson for being “out of control” and questioning whether he has the “right attitude” for F1. This comes in the wake of an on-track scrap with Fernando Alonso during the United States Grand Prix two weeks ago.
Of course, the fact that Pérez and Lawson may be fighting for a seat on the grid next year, depending on what rumors you choose to believe, may be a contributing factor to the action on, and off, the track.
Speaking with the official F1 channel Thursday ahead of the São Paulo Grand Prix Lawson conceded that there were some things he could have done differently in Mexico City but ultimately, he is not racing to make friends.
He is racing to win.
“I mean, in every race, there’s so many things you go over, so many things you can do better,” said Lawson on Thursday. “Overall, yes, for sure, there’s obviously stuff in there that could have been better, but I’ll take those things and learn from it going into this weekend.
“Obviously my goal is not to go out and make enemies of anybody. I’m not trying to cause any issues or anything like that,” continued Lawson. At the same time, I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to win – that’s what I’m focused on doing. In this situation, we’re fighting very hard for P6 in the constructors’ [standings], and I’m fighting for my future in F1 as well, so that’s what I’m focused on.”
Lawson did offer an apology to Pérez for a gesture made in the veteran’s direction during the Mexico City Grand Prix, as the VCARB driver was passing Pérez on the track.
“In the moment things are very heated and obviously I apologise for what I did last week,” he added. “It’s not something I should have done, and it’s something I won’t be doing again.”
The VCARB driver was also asked about what was said in the Red Bull hospitality space after the race, as cameras caught Lawson walking into an office with Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner for a closed-door meeting. According to the driver, he outlined that he could have done some things differently, but reiterated his belief regarding why he drives in the first place.
“They know why I’m here and it’s something I’ve said for many years. All of us from F1 are only here for one reason. At the same time as apologising, it’s also what I told them.”
Lawson and the rest of the grid return to the track Friday for the single practice session before lap times count later in the day during qualifying for the F1 Sprint Race.
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