Lawson reflects on Miami mayhem after first-corner clash

Liam Lawson’s Miami Grand Prix quickly spiralled into chaos as a first-corner clash with Jack Doohan left the spinning VCARB 02 “destroyed,” with lingering damage eventually forcing his retirement later in the race.

Launching off the line from fifteenth on the grid, Lawson charged through the field and attempted to capitalise on a gap that had opened up between Gabriel Bortoleto and Jack Doohan — the catalyst for undoing in Miami.

Arriving at the first corner, the RB driver sought out the Turn 1 apex, however, was rocked off course by the closing Alpine on the inside line, throwing Lawson airborne before he spun wayward in the middle of the circuit.

In disbelief over team radio, the Kiwi said: “I got completely hit mate, I got no idea what the Alpine was doing.”

Despite losing critical aerodynamics and sporting a visible gash in his sidepod, the Kiwi driver was able to get going again, struggling to catch up with the back of the pack as a Virtual Safety Car was called to clear the wounded car of the other rookie involved.  

“We had a really good start,” Lawson explained.

“A big gap opened up into turn one so I went in and was following whoever was in front of me and then felt a hit from the side. 

“We took some big damage there and was holding out for some rain, but unfortunately it never came.”

Liam Lawson, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, sporting damage after a collision with Jack Doohan at the Miami Grand Prix. Image: Hector Vivas/Getty Images // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.

Running in last place, Lawson dragged his VCARB 02 to a mid-race pitstop on Lap 29, setting his fastest lap of the race, a 1:31.770s, as he rejoined on the hard compound tyre. 

Without the reprieve of the promised wet weather arriving, his hard tyre stint only lasted nine laps when the RB pit wall made the decision to retire Lawson due to damage on Lap 39. 

His retirement came after a disappointing Sprint Saturday saw him stripped of his first points of the season after he earned a penalty for causing the collision between himself and Fernando Alonso in the Sprint, before complications with an engine sensor drained the #30 car of power during qualifying, leaving him down in P15 to start the Miami Grand Prix.

“It’s a shame because the team have done a great job this weekend and the car has been fast,” the Kiwi said.

“We’ll reset ahead of the triple header, keep looking forwards and keep improving things.”

Lawson will hope for a smooth run when Formula 1 jets back to Europe, kicking off the upcoming triple header with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix across May 16-18 — but first, indulging in a much-needed week away from the race track takes priority.

Image: Mark Thompson/Getty Images // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.

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