In an unexpected twist during the 2024 United States Grand Prix, Formula 1 newcomer Liam Lawson found himself embroiled in a heated feud with two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. What should have been a routine sprint race in Austin turned into a fiery clash, as Lawson’s aggressive defensive driving left Alonso seething and fans buzzing.
The conflict began on Saturday during an intense on-track battle for 15th and 16th positions in the sprint race, far from the points-paying top eight. Yet for Lawson, every moment counts as he fights for a coveted seat alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2025. Alonso, however, was left fuming after a daring move from the rookie that saw the Aston Martin driver forced off-track.
The incident unfolded on the first lap when Lawson dived down the inside of Alonso at Turn 11, pushing the veteran wide. As Alonso tried to reclaim the position before Turn 12, Lawson aggressively blocked him, bringing back memories of Alonso’s terrifying 2022 crash with his now-teammate Lance Stroll at the same track. The defense was so tight that Alonso later claimed they nearly collided at over 300 km/h.
“I don’t want to make a big deal of it,” Alonso said after the race, “but there was no penalty because I was the one who lifted off to avoid a crash.”
The clash didn’t end there. On lap six, both drivers lost a position to Esteban Ocon due to another fierce defense from Lawson, prompting Alonso to angrily radio his team, calling Lawson “an idiot.” The Spaniard ultimately finished a lowly 18th, and his frustrations boiled over when he confronted Lawson after the race.
Lawson, however, remained unfazed. “He had a pretty horrible race, so I can understand why he’s upset,” Lawson said. “But if I did anything wrong, I would have been penalized.”
The tension spilled into Sunday’s grand prix qualifying session when Alonso pulled an unorthodox move, overtaking Lawson on the way out of the pits as the green light came on for Q1—a rare sight during qualifying. Lawson believed this was Alonso’s way of seeking revenge for the sprint race incident.
“He said he would screw me, and I guess he kept his word,” Lawson revealed, still puzzled by Alonso’s intensity over a fight for 16th place. “We were racing for P16, and I don’t know why he was so upset.”
While Alonso downplayed the incident, saying, “Everyone behaves as they want on track,” the simmering feud left many scratching their heads. For Alonso, it seemed Lawson was fighting too aggressively for a meaningless position, but for the young Red Bull hopeful, it was a crucial opportunity to showcase his racecraft under immense pressure.
Lawson’s defensive driving stayed within the rules, with race director Niels Wittich not referring the incident to the stewards. The New Zealander’s no-holds-barred style mirrored the kind of racing Alonso himself has become famous for over the years. Ironically, Alonso currently carries eight penalty points on his license, many for overly aggressive defensive moves that have led to incidents.
While Alonso has the luxury of a secure seat and decades of experience, Lawson’s six-race audition could define his future in F1. For him, this was no mere battle for 16th—it was a fight for his career.
As the dust settles on this unexpected feud, one thing is clear: the pressure Lawson is under to prove himself has pushed him to fight tooth and nail for every position, even if it means locking horns with one of F1’s greatest. And in a sport where careers can be made or broken in mere seconds, Lawson’s audacious defense may have shown Red Bull exactly what they’re looking for in their next star.
