Lawson rues ‘disappointing’ race

Liam Lawson came away from Mexico with zero points and a damaged car after some intense on-track battles, including a clash with his Red Bull colleague Sergio Perez.

In his second race weekend with the Red Bull development team since being drafted in to replace Daniel Ricciardo, the New Zealander made a promising opening to the 71-lap grand prix.

Lawson started the October 28 race from 12th on the grid and was soon facing a fight for 10th with Perez, who marginally ahead at turn four and forced his Kiwi rival wide.

The pair continued to jostle for position at the next few corners before Lawson came out on top. The battle damaged the Mexican's car and ultimately played a part in him missing out on points.

Lawson said Perez was “obviously upset” after the pair had a post-race chat, reports the Formula 1 website.

“I don’t know where he wanted me to go,” Lawson says. “I gave him space at [turn] four, he came in super late. At that point of the race we had just got some clean air and, honestly, our pace wasn’t bad so I’m not just going to get out of his way.

“I gave him space in [turn] four, he drove me off and then didn’t give me space in [turn] five. I was on the lock-stop trying to turn the corner and avoid a collision but I had nowhere to go. It’s frustrating, it wasn’t my intention.”

Lawson went on to have a similar battle with the Williams of Franco Colapinto, during which his vehicle suffered front-wing damage and led to him finishing in 16th place.

He described the result as “very disappointing” after he was ninth and claimed two championship points at the United States Grand Prix the previous week.

Ferrari took out first and third in Mexico, with Carlos Sainz winning and his teammate Charles Leclerc on the bottom step of the podium. Lando Norris, in a McLaren Mercedes, was second.

The next round of the Formula 1 championship is the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo on November 4 (NZ time).