Hadjar Pushed 'a Little Too Much' in Late São Paulo Scrap with Lawson

Racing Bulls secured their first double top-10 finish since Baku at the São Paulo Grand Prix, but it came with a heart-stopping, unseen last-lap scrap between teammates Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar. Lawson, on an audacious one-stop strategy, finished seventh, fending off Hadjar in eighth after a tense wheel-to-wheel moment that nearly ended in disaster.

Why it matters:

The intense, final-lap battle between Racing Bulls teammates Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar highlights the team's aggressive approach to securing constructors' points, even if it means high-stakes racing between their own drivers. While the contact was risky, the resulting double points finish was crucial, lifting Racing Bulls to 82 points and strengthening their position against Aston Martin and Haas in the constructors' standings.

The details:

• Last-Lap Contact: On the final lap, Hadjar attempted an aggressive overtake on Lawson around the outside of Turn 1. Their wheels touched, causing Hadjar to experience a snap of oversteer.
• Drivers' Reactions: Hadjar admitted, "I pushed it a little too much," acknowledging his mistake but also expressing the enjoyment of the battle. Lawson, composed, defended Hadjar's ambition, stating, "It's the last lap of a race. Honestly, as much as it's the ideal thing to do, there's no way that we're not going to race for a position like that."
• Team Principle's View: Team principal Alan Permane confirmed the team trusted their young drivers to race cleanly, despite the nail-biting finish.
• Strategy Frustration: Hadjar expressed frustration over a pitstop strategy miscue that caused him to lose track position to Oliver Bearman earlier in the race.
• Crucial Points: Despite the drama, Lawson's seventh and Hadjar's eighth place secured a vital 10 points for Racing Bulls, ending a three-weekend point-less streak and boosting their standing in the constructors' championship.

The big picture:

This incident underscores Racing Bulls' strategy of allowing their young talents to race hard, even against each other, in the pursuit of valuable championship points. While it presents a high-risk, high-reward scenario, it also showcases the competitive spirit within the team and their determination to climb the constructor ranks.

What's next:

The team will likely review the last-lap incident to reinforce boundaries while maintaining their philosophy of competitive racing. The strong points haul from São Paulo provides significant momentum, which Racing Bulls will aim to carry into the upcoming races as they look to solidify their position against their midfield rivals.