Arvid Lindblad apologises to Liam Lawson after Baku restart collision
Arvid Lindblad apologises to Lawson after his Racing Bulls team-mate was pitched into a spin during a restart at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The clash happened at the Baku City Circuit, seconds after the safety car came out for Alex Albon’s crash. Lawson lost ground at once and finished outside the points, while Lindblad brought his car home in seventh for six points.
The pair ran side by side heading into Turn 1 once racing resumed. Lawson spun across the track and picked up a hole in his floor, damage that effectively ended his hopes of a points finish on a weekend Racing Bulls had already found tough.
FIA stewards clear Lindblad as drivers reflect on Baku clash
FIA Stewards reviewed the incident after the race and decided no further action was needed. Their findings noted Lindblad had restricted space available to him as the two fought for position into the first corner, so neither driver picked up a penalty.
Lawson gave his version of events to Sky Sports F1 moments after climbing out of the car. “I need to watch it, but I mean, we’re all coming into Turn 1 on the restart, and I just got smoked from my left, put a hole in my floor as well,” he said. He admitted he could not work out why Lindblad had gone for the gap he did. “So I don’t really know what gap he was looking for. In the middle of both of us going into Turn 1, I just don’t understand it.”
Lindblad addressed the clash directly on social media once the race had settled down, according to a report on the collision from Motorsport.com. “Gutted about what happened with Liam – sorry mate. Glad we were still able to bring some points home for the team,” he wrote.
Floor damage leaves Lawson outside points while Lindblad takes seventh
Lawson’s damaged floor cost him downforce for the rest of the grand prix, and he could only manage 12th place at the flag. Lindblad kept his own race together and crossed the line seventh, banking six championship points at a circuit that punishes even small errors.
He reflected on a hard few days before turning to the result. “It’s not been an easy week, and I’m frustrated with how I handled some of it,” Lindblad said. He then praised his side of the garage. “Strong race today, really happy to bring it home in P7,” he added, before crediting the engine department. “We’ve struggled as a team too, so I’m really happy with how we bounced back and maximised today on a difficult weekend. Big shoutout to the PU boys – you gave me an absolute rocketship today.”
Racing Bulls move forward following difficult Baku City Circuit weekend
The contrasting finishes sum up a strange afternoon for Racing Bulls, who arrived in Baku short on form after a difficult run of races. Six points from Lindblad gave the team something to build on, even as Lawson left Azerbaijan empty handed and short of answers over the clash.
The apology draws a line under the incident. Lindblad apologises to Lawson directly rather than leaving it to a team statement, and both drivers have indicated they want to move past it as team-mates. The pair have grown close since Lawson helped him settle in following Lawson bonding with Lindblad after Hadjar’s exit, and this weekend’s result forms just one chapter in Lindblad’s progression through the Red Bull setup. For now, Racing Bulls take a mixed set of results out of Baku and turn their attention to the next round.
