Lawson: Perez Fought Me Like It Was for the World Championship in Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia – A rivalry simmering for two years reignited at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend, as Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls and Sergio Pérez of Cadillac engaged in a heated battle on the track, punctuated by pointed post-race comments. The clash, occurring during the season opener , brought back memories of a contentious 2024 season when Lawson was a potential replacement for Pérez at Red Bull.
The on-track conflict unfolded as Pérez, returning to Formula 1 with Cadillac after losing his Red Bull seat, found himself defending aggressively against Lawson. The Racing Bulls driver, after a difficult start to the race that saw him drop from eighth to 18th due to an engine issue and a near-miss with Franco Colapinto, was quickly on the back of Pérez. The pair nearly made contact at Turn 3, with Pérez forcing Lawson wide, before Lawson ultimately completed a pass at Turn 11.
“That guy f—ing sucks,” Lawson exclaimed over team radio immediately after overtaking Pérez, a sentiment that underscored the depth of the animosity between the two drivers. Pérez responded with bemusement, asking over Cadillac’s radio, “Haha! What happened with this guy?”
The roots of this friction trace back to the 2024 season, when Lawson, then driving for Racing Bulls, was considered as a potential replacement for Pérez at Red Bull. The rivalry intensified during the Mexico City Grand Prix that year, where contact between the two drivers led to Lawson issuing an apology for a gesture made from the cockpit. Lawson ultimately secured a seat at Red Bull for 2025, but his tenure was short-lived, lasting only two races before he was demoted back to Racing Bulls.
Lawson believes Pérez’s robust defense in Melbourne was directly linked to their past encounters. “Two years later and he’s not over it!” Lawson stated after the race. “He’s fighting me like it’s for the world championship and we are like P16.” Despite the aggressive driving, Lawson downplayed the significance of the incident, adding, “Obviously, I don’t really care too much. My race was already over at that point, so never mind.” He characterized Pérez’s driving as “aggressive” but not illegal, emphasizing that the battle was ultimately inconsequential given their positions in the race.
Pérez, however, offered a more subdued assessment, dismissing the incident as simply “a bit of fun racing.” He finished the race in 16th place, three laps down and over two minutes behind Lawson, but did not dwell on the history between the two drivers. “No, I mean, for me it was just racing,” Pérez said. “It was a bit of fun racing and that’s really it. I was in a much slower car, so I think it’s just fine to race.”
The stewards reviewed the incident between Lawson and Pérez but determined that no further action was necessary. Lawson appeared largely indifferent to the decision, reiterating that the battle occurred for positions well outside the points-paying positions. The incident highlights a continuing tension between the two drivers, suggesting that the rivalry, born from a competition for a coveted seat at Red Bull, is far from over. Despite Pérez’s attempt to downplay the situation, Lawson’s comments suggest a lingering resentment that could fuel further on-track battles throughout the 2026 season.
The Australian Grand Prix clash represents more than just a mid-race skirmish. It’s a continuation of a narrative that began with a potential driver swap and evolved into a personal rivalry. Even as both drivers are now with different teams, the competitive fire remains and the history between them clearly influences their interactions on the track. The incident serves as a reminder that Formula 1 is not only a sport of speed and precision but also one of complex relationships and lingering grudges.