Liam Lawson hits back at Zak Brown after Max Verstappen 'mistake'

Liam Lawson has responded to Zak Brown after the McLaren CEO included a radio exchange between the Racing Bulls driver and his team in a letter to the FIA regarding shared team ownership. The incident occurred in Miami, where Lawson was told to let Max Verstappen pass following an early-race off-track moment.

Reviewing the call ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, Lawson admitted it was a mistake. "Yeah, we made a mistake. We shouldn't have done that, because the move was actually Max's fault," he told media including RacingNews365. "When reviewing it, the way it was reviewed by the team meant we didn't look at it properly, and that's why I was surprised. But you have such a short amount of time to make a decision, and that's why you can get it wrong."

Why it matters:

The exchange highlights the growing tension around shared team ownership in F1. Zak Brown has been pushing for tighter regulations to prevent cooperation between sister teams. Using a team radio message as evidence suggests McLaren sees potential foul play, but Lawson insists the decision was purely a judgment error—not a sign of Red Bull influence.

The details:

• In Miami, both Lawson and Verstappen ran wide while fighting. Lawson emerged ahead but was then instructed by Racing Bulls to let Verstappen through.
• Lawson initially questioned the order on the radio; that clip was included in Brown's letter to the FIA.
• Lawson clarified: "If it had been any other car, it would have been the exact same decision. So it was simply that we made a mistake."
• He stressed that Racing Bulls operates within the rules: "We're doing everything by the rules. That's the most important thing."

What's next:

The FIA will review Brown's letter. While no immediate action is expected, the incident adds to the debate over multi-team ownership in Formula 1. Lawson and Racing Bulls will move on in Canada, hoping to avoid similar confusion.