Liam Lawson shocked and surprised by blame put on him by Mexico federation, but grateful to the FIA for apology and clarification.
Visa Cash App RB’s Lawson was surprised after Mexico GP after a dangerous moment with the marshals at Turn 1. The investigation was put up by the FIA, but amid the ongoing situation, Mexico’s motorsport federation OMDAI released a document to blame the Kiwi F1 driver.
They alleged that Lawson did not do enough to avoid the incident when he could have. That statement was quickly put down by the FIA, who cleared the Kiwi racer of any wrongdoing. In fact, they also noted about the telemetry data, which showed that the Visa Cash App RB driver did do enough to avoid.
They added that the investigation is still ongoing with OMDAI also involved along with Visa Cash App RB. In his first media session since the incident and following statements, Lawson expressed shock and surprise after the blame was put on him by the motor racing federation.
“Yes, I was very surprised,” said Lawson to media in Brazil. “I think the FIA’s statement was very clear and very accurate as well. Something that is probably… I don’t really say too much more than what was put in that statement. It was obviously checked into, everything that led to that happening, so the fact that they got called out there, and then everything I did in the car to obviously slow down and avoid them, and take a completely different line to what I’ve taken through the entire weekend.
“But yes, I was extremely surprised — still am very surprised,” summed up Lawson, who confirmed about talks with the FIA and receiving an apology from the governing body. He noted that investigation is still ongoing, but from his understanding it seems like miscommunication situation.
“I had a talk with them, and I appreciated that a lot. I do understand, we’re in a sport with a huge amount of variables, and these things — as much as they can’t happen again, and they shouldn’t happen — there’s always a possibility of something like this,” continued Lawson. “And obviously, what’s most important is that the actions taken now to prevent it.
“So I didn’t have a problem with any of that; it was just the statement that came out trying to accuse me of doing something. A little bit [they explained]. I mean, there’s obviously been a much bigger investigation behind it now which I am sure we will get more details on as well, that’s involved the team and stuff like that. But at the time but it was obviously a miscommunication.
“From my understanding, they were released onto the track and then recalled back, but, for whatever reason, they didn’t get that message, or they’d already left or something like that, from my understanding,” summed up Lawson. When asked about the incident itself, the Kiwi said his main aim was to avoid them at all cost considering how close they were.
“Honestly, at that time I was more concerned about the fact that these two guys were running across the track in front of me,” said Lawson. “In that moment I have no idea what direction they’re going to run, and I try to basically do as little direction changes as possible so that they don’t get spooked and change direction. So at the time that was really what I was thinking about. Anyway, we had a very damaged car and it didn’t make a difference to our race.”
Here’s FIA clearance
Here’s OMDAI on blame
Here’s Liam Lawson after incident
