F1 | Oliver Bearman–Liam Lawson incident in Brazil Sprint: one driver under investigation. Oliver Bearman and Liam Lawson clash in the Brazil GP Sprint.

One of the hottest moments of the Brazil Sprint race was the clash between Oliver Bearman and Liam Lawson, prompting the FIA to open an investigation. The Sprint at Interlagos delivered plenty of excitement, including a dramatic off-track exit by three drivers almost simultaneously. However, even before that, a heated incident occurred between Bearman and Lawson, with the FIA now investigating the British driver.

Both drivers were moving up from the back of the grid, with the Haas driver in P15 and the VCARB pilot in P17. They soon found themselves battling each other on the first lap, which saw the first yellow flag waved.

The incident unfolded as follows: Lawson attempted an inside overtake on Oliver Bearman down the Lago descent at Turn 4. In defending, Oliver Bearman squeezed the racing line too tightly, leaving little room for the New Zealander. The two cars made contact, sending Oliver Bearman into a spin and causing him to lose multiple positions, dropping to 18th. Lawson was able to continue, but the damage to the floor of his car compromised his pace, ultimately finishing 13th.

Race control immediately opened an investigation for “potentially dangerous driving” against Bearman, summoning both drivers after the race. According to the stewards, the young Haas driver’s maneuver was considered “too aggressive” for the opening phase of the race, with cold tyres and a tightly packed field.

After the race, Ferrari junior Bearman defended his actions, stating that he had left space, but Liam Lawson closed more than expected. Lawson, in turn, responded that there was no margin to avoid contact.

The stewards’ decision is expected shortly, as qualifying will begin in just a few hours and the grid needs to be reset.