Sergio Perez’s home race at the Mexican Grand Prix turned from hopeful to disastrous after an early clash with rookie Liam Lawson. Fighting to redeem what he has described as a “terrible” season, Perez moved up from his 18th starting position to 13th before receiving a five-second penalty for a grid misalignment, which set him back again. Shortly after, an on-track altercation with Lawson further damaged his race—and his car.
Perez voiced his frustrations about Lawson’s aggressive approach, citing similar incidents the New Zealander had with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso at the U.S. Grand Prix and with Williams’ Franco Colapinto during the same race in Mexico.
“I had a great start despite the penalty,” Perez recounted, “but the incident with Lawson hurt us a lot. He was off the track and just came straight as if no car was there. I saw him and opened up room, but it could have been a huge crash if I hadn’t.”
Perez suggested that Lawson’s approach reflects a lack of experience, emphasizing that the 22-year-old rookie’s aggressiveness has impacted multiple drivers without repercussions from the stewards.
“Lawson did the same with Fernando, with Franco at the end, and he didn’t get any penalties,” Perez pointed out. “I don’t think he’s come into Formula 1 with the right attitude—he needs to be a bit more humble.”
Lawson, who stepped in at Red Bull’s sister team to replace Daniel Ricciardo, has impressed Red Bull bosses, with team principal Christian Horner recently commending his rise from 19th to ninth in Austin. However, Perez’s recent string of poor results at Red Bull has fueled speculation about his future with the team, and Lawson’s name has surfaced as a possible successor to partner Max Verstappen in 2025.
While acknowledging Lawson’s talent and hunger, Perez questioned the rookie’s judgment, warning that repeated incidents could backfire on him.
“He’s very passionate and talented,” Perez said, “but Lawson has had too many incidents already. There comes a point where it can cost you, and he needs to recognize if he’s overdoing it.”
The Mexican GP clash adds fuel to the speculation surrounding Red Bull’s lineup next season as Perez continues to struggle with both performance and consistency. With four races left in 2024, Perez will need to make a strong case to retain his seat, while Lawson’s reputation—and career prospects—ride on proving he can race hard without overstepping.
