Liam Lawson produced an impressive recovery at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, finishing seventh despite starting from the pit lane and helping Racing Bulls extend its advantage over Alpine in the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship. However, the New Zealand driver believes the team had enough pace to finish even higher, with post-race penalties playing an important role in the final classification.
It was a weekend of mixed emotions for Racing Bulls at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. While Liam Lawson secured valuable championship points, team-mate Arvid Lindblad was forced to retire following a collision with Oscar Piastri that sent the British driver into the barriers. The result nevertheless allowed the Faenza-based team to strengthen its position in the battle for fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship.
Arvid Lindblad retires after Oscar Piastri collision at Mexico GP
Racing Bulls had an opportunity to bring both cars home in the points at the Mexico City Grand Prix, but those hopes were dashed when Arvid Lindblad collided with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. The impact with the barriers caused sufficient damage to force the British driver out of the race, turning a promising afternoon into a frustrating retirement.
Following an investigation, the stewards handed Oscar Piastri a 10-second time penalty for the incident. The sanction dropped the Australian out of the points, adding to the difficulties facing McLaren during the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Arvid Lindblad admitted that the outcome was particularly disappointing given the speed Racing Bulls had demonstrated throughout the weekend.
“Clearly, it’s not the result we were hoping for. We were well positioned to score points, so it’s a shame about the on-track collision with Oscar. However, our race pace has been excellent throughout the weekend, which is a very positive aspect.”
The British driver also reflected on his recent difficulties, acknowledging that incidents at the Madrid and Baku Grands Prix had affected his confidence and ability to extract the maximum from the car.
“After the last few races and the incidents in Madrid and Baku, I’d lost a little rhythm and confidence and hadn’t been able to show my full potential, but I’m finally getting back to my usual level. I’m looking forward to completing this triple-header next week in Brazil. It will be another exciting weekend.”
Liam Lawson finishes seventh at Mexico GP after pit-lane start
While Arvid Lindblad’s race ended prematurely, Liam Lawson delivered a much more positive result for Racing Bulls. Despite starting from the pit lane, the New Zealander fought his way into contention and ultimately secured seventh place, making the most of his car’s performance and the penalties imposed on several rivals.
Oscar Piastri was not the only driver to receive a 10-second penalty. Both Alpine drivers were also penalised for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags, dropping them out of the points and allowing Racing Bulls to increase its advantage over its direct Constructors’ Championship rival.
The outcome proved especially valuable in the ongoing 2026 Formula 1 championship campaign, although Liam Lawson acknowledged that the team’s performance suggested an even stronger finish might have been achievable.
“It was a difficult race, but being able to score points after starting from the pit lane is a positive. I genuinely believe we had the potential to gain even more positions, given the speed of the car. In any case, this result puts us in a good position heading into Brazil next week.”
Racing Bulls strengthens its fight for fifth in the F1 Constructors’ Championship
Although Liam Lawson was satisfied with his recovery, he also expressed disappointment that Racing Bulls had been unable to capitalise fully on its potential because of Arvid Lindblad’s retirement. The New Zealand driver was nevertheless relieved that his team-mate had emerged unharmed from the collision.
“It’s a real shame that Arvid wasn’t able to finish the race, but I’m relieved to know that he’s OK. As a team, we’ll continue to focus on our fight for fifth place in the championship.”
For Racing Bulls, the Mexican Grand Prix therefore provided both encouragement and frustration. Liam Lawson’s seventh-place finish demonstrated the competitiveness of the car and delivered important points, but Arvid Lindblad’s retirement prevented the team from achieving an even stronger collective result.
With the next round taking place in Brazil, Racing Bulls will aim to build on its Mexican performance and maintain its advantage over Alpine. The fight for fifth place remains a central objective, and Liam Lawson’s recovery from the pit lane has given the team valuable momentum heading into the next race.
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