Liam Lawson has claimed Formula 1 returnee Sergio Perez is “not over” the pair’s previous on-track incidents following their most recent clash at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix.
Lawson admitted his “race was already over” before it really began after he lost power on the race start, but his biggest gripe was with the conduct by Perez in their battle for 16th.
After a few laps of following the Cadillac driver, Lawson eventually barged past Perez with a late move into Turn 11 on lap 16. But this had come after he'd got crowded out on corner exit in an earlier attempt.
The Racing Bulls driver came away from the encounter less than impressed with an aggressive Perez, claiming over the radio "that guy f***ing sucks" before going on to take 13th at the flag.
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The incident marks another flashpoint in the pair’s rivalry, which initially started as they battled to secure the second Red Bull seat for the 2025 season.
The friction only intensified following contact during the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix, which saw Perez finish his home race with damage and Lawson forced to apologise days later for gesturing towards the then-Red Bull driver down the main straight.
“Two years later he’s not over it,” Lawson told media, including The Race, after the Australian Grand Prix. “He’s fighting me like it’s for the world championship and we’re P16 - so, yeah.
“Obviously I don’t really care too much. My race was already over at that point, so we’ll just move on from it.”
While both drivers were initially put under investigation for the incident, the stewards ultimately decided that Perez’s move did not call for a penalty.
When asked if he was surprised that there was no action, Lawson admitted: “It wasn’t anything illegal, he was just aggressive. Honestly, I don’t care. It was for P16.”
Despite drawing the ire of the Racing Bulls driver, Perez felt it was simply a normal part of racing.
“I was just trying to race him,” Perez 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.”
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