Liam Lawson questions Racing Bulls after team orders row in Austrian GP
Photo: Race Pictures
08:00, 29 Jun
1 Comments
Ben Hunt is an award-winning motorsport journalist with over two decades of experience in Formula 1 and international media. As a former editor-in-chief and bestselling author, he delivers in-depth analysis and strategic insight from the highest level of the sport.
Liam Lawson was left questioning Racing Bulls' decision-making after an apparent team orders mix-up created unnecessary tension between himself and rookie team-mate Arvid Lindblad during the Austrian Grand Prix.
The pair secured a strong double points finish with ninth and 10th places at the Red Bull Ring, but the result failed to mask confusion over instructions issued from the pit wall during the race.
Racing Bulls had established themselves as the strongest midfield team throughout the weekend, with Lawson leading Lindblad during the opening stint before strategy brought the two cars together after the first round of pit stops.
Lindblad was stopped a lap earlier than Lawson to protect against an undercut from Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto. When Lawson emerged from the pits, Lindblad overtook both Ollie Bearman and his team-mate into Turn 3.
Lawson immediately fought back, despite having been instructed to lift off after exiting the pits to help manage brake temperatures.
ADVERTISEMENT
Race engineer Pierre Hamelin instructed Lindblad to "hold position" behind Lawson while continuing the brake management procedure. Lindblad immediately questioned the order over team radio, asking simply: "Why?"
Hamelin replied that the lift-and-coast phase remained "critical," reinforcing the instruction not to attack.
Meanwhile, Lawson sought reassurance from his own race engineer that he would not come under pressure from his team-mate.
"Am I going to be attacked?" Lawson asked. The response was unequivocal.
"Negative. Arvid will hold position, we are not fighting." However, that assurance lasted only one lap.
ADVERTISEMENT
Lindblad launched an aggressive move into Turn 4, forcing Lawson to the outside before completing the overtake in a move that was firm but within the regulations.
Photo: Race Pictures
Lawson demands an internal review of the incident
"Dude. Alex?" Lawson said over the radio. His engineer responded: "I told you what I was told."
Lawson later added: "Last f***ing time I'm listening, man. I lift off 50 metres and I get attacked."
ADVERTISEMENT
The situation was eventually brought under control. During the final stint, Lindblad received another, more direct instruction to hold position and complied without further incident.
Speaking after the race, Lawson admitted the episode would likely require discussions behind closed doors.
"We had a strategy, and executed it in the first stint," Lawson said. "Then I was told to manage the brakes and that I wouldn't be attacked, and then I was."
Asked whether the incident would need addressing internally, he replied: "Probably, I would say."
Ironically, strategy ultimately restored the original order. Racing Bulls stopped Lawson a lap earlier during the final pit sequence, allowing him to undercut Lindblad and reclaim ninth place.
ADVERTISEMENT
Lindblad appeared unfazed by the controversy after the race. While acknowledging the instruction to hold position, the rookie focused on the team's overall result.
"We finished P9 and P10," Lindblad said. "It worked out pretty well. There was no threat from behind."
Although Racing Bulls celebrated another valuable double points finish, the conflicting radio messages exposed a communication breakdown that briefly risked compromising an otherwise excellent afternoon for the team in Austria.
Don’t miss GPblog in Google
Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.
Add as a preferred / source on GoogleRead more about:
latest news
British Grand Prix
Overview
Friday 03.07.26
Practice 1
11:30 AM
Sprint Qualification
03:30 PM
Saturday 04.07.26
Sprint Race
11:00 AM
Qualification
03:00 PM
Sunday 05.07.26
Race
02:00 PM
Friday 03.07.26
Practice 1
Fri 11:30 AM
Sprint Qualification
Fri 03:30 PM
Saturday 04.07.26
Sprint Race
Sat 11:00 AM
Qualification
Sat 03:00 PM
Sunday 05.07.26
Race
Sun 02:00 PM
Times are in your local timezone
Rumors
Popular on GPBlog
1
Piastri learns FIA verdict after post-race Austrian GP investigation
7396 times read
2
Stewards deliver verdict over Hamilton forcing Verstappen off track in Austrian GP
6929 times read
3
Hamilton sends clear message to Verstappen after intense Austrian GP duel
4153 times read
4
Oscar Piastri summoned to the stewards after Austrian Grand Prix
2276 times read
F1-stand 2026
Season
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | MercedesMER | 171 | |
2 | MercedesMER | 131 | |
3 | FerrariFER | 125 | |
4 | McLarenMCL | 80 | |
5 | McLarenMCL | 79 | |
6 | FerrariFER | 79 | |
7 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 73 | |
8 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 42 | |
9 | AlpineALP | 41 | |
10 | Racing BullsRCB | 30 |
Loading
