F1 | The near-penalty nobody noticed: the shocking finale of the São Paulo GP. In the final lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix, Racing Bulls teammates Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson nearly collided.

The São Paulo Grand Prix ended with a tense moment that few noticed live but could have completely changed the final standings. On the last lap, Racing Bulls teammates Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson came into contact while fighting for seventh place—a huge risk that, fortunately, did not turn into a disaster.

The Faenza-based team had enjoyed a surprisingly strong weekend, managing to place both cars in the points zone after an intense and strategically complex race. Liam Lawson had opted for a one-stop strategy, which allowed him to maintain position ahead of Isack Hadjar in the final stages. The French driver, on the other hand, chose a two-stop strategy, making him much faster in the closing laps.

On the final lap, Isack Hadjar launched a decisive attack. Exiting the first corner, the two cars touched under full acceleration. Wheel-to-wheel, both cars slid dangerously before regaining their lines. For a few moments, the Racing Bulls pit wall held its breath, fearing that a double top-ten finish might slip away.

Comments from Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson

After the race, Isack Hadjar admitted his share of responsibility: “I pushed a bit too hard. It was fun, but I overdid it. It was probably my mistake.” Liam Lawson, in contrast, showed great maturity, stating that he “respected the attempt” by his teammate while acknowledging that “it was easy to misjudge the braking point.”

In the end, there were no penalties, and both cars crossed the line in seventh and eighth positions—a significant result for the team, which avoided a dramatic setback. However, the incident serves as a reminder that even during a strong weekend, a brief moment of overzealousness can turn triumph into disaster.