Arvid Lindblad has publicly apologised to his Racing Bulls team-mate Liam Lawson after the pair collided during the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
On the streets of Baku, the Faenza-based outfit looked set to secure another double-points finish, with both drivers locked in an intense midfield battle. However, the mid-race Safety Car restart saw the team lose its chance of securing a double-points finish. Lawson dropped to the back of the field and out of the points.
As the field charged towards Turn 1, chaos unfolded, with several drivers involved in incidents throughout the pack. Lindblad locked his brakes while attempting to navigate the corner, resulting in contact with the side of Lawson’s car.
The incident proved costly for Lawson, who was forced to recover from the back of the field and ultimately finished 12th. Lindblad, meanwhile, went on to secure a strong seventh-place finish and six points for Racing Bulls.
The incident left Lawson with extensive floor damage, prompting the Kiwi to voice his frustration.
“Man, I love getting taken out by my team-mate. That’s pretty sick,” Lawson said over team radio.
When reflecting on the race, the 24-year-old criticised his team-mate’s aggressive move, which ultimately ended his hopes of scoring points.
However, Lindblad took responsibility for the incident when speaking to the media after the race. The rookie apologised to Lawson in the media pen, admitting that he had made a mistake and expressing his regret over the contact.
Despite the apology, the incident marked a costly missed opportunity for Racing Bulls to secure a double-points finish. Crucially the team will head to Malaysia next week eager to put the incident behind, and secure another strong performance.
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