Liam Lawson accused Sergio Perez of racing him with “unnecessary aggression” after the pair made contact during a midfield battle at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Racing Bulls driver suggests Perez is still holding a grudge from their previous competition for a Red Bull seat.
How the battle unfolded
Lawson qualified P8 at Albert Park after reaching Q3 with a best time of 1:19.994, while Perez, now driving for Cadillac, managed only P18 after being eliminated in Q1 with a 1:22.605. Despite starting ten places apart on the grid, the two crossed paths during the race as positions shuffled in the midfield.
Contact between the two cars prompted a formal review by the stewards’ panel, which consists of Nish Shetty, Mathieu Remmerie, Pedro Lamy and Matthew Selley. Their verdict was ‘no penalty‘.
Lawson, however, was not satisfied. Speaking after the race, he linked Perez’s on-track behaviour to the pair’s shared history within Red Bull. Both drivers had, at various points, competed for the same place on the team, and Lawson suggested that history was affecting how Perez raced him.
Lawson said Perez’s defensive manoeuvres went beyond what he considered okay for a midfield contest, and that the aggression appeared to be personally motivated rather than sporting.
Changed circumstances
The 2026 season has seen both drivers’ careers move in different directions. Lawson remains part of the Red Bull stable, racing for the junior team alongside teammate Arvid Lindblad. Perez, meanwhile, departed Red Bull and joined the newly formed Cadillac Formula 1 Team, where he partners with Valtteri Bottas.
Their qualifying performances at Albert Park reflected the gap between the two teams. Lawson comfortably reached the final qualifying session, while Perez was unable to progress beyond Q1 in the Cadillac.
Perez has not publicly responded to Lawson’s comments.
