‘It’s not something I should have done’ – Lawson apologises for Perez clash in Mexico but adds ‘I’m not here to make friends’

Liam Lawson has admitted that there are things he “could have done better” at the Mexico City Grand Prix and will learn from going forward, following a clash with home hero Sergio Perez, but also stressed that he was “here to win” rather than make friends.

Lawson arrived at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez fresh from a points-scoring return to F1 in Austin, where he took over from Daniel Ricciardo, as the New Zealander bids to prove himself worthy of a full-time seat in 2025.

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Amid plenty of talk that it could be more than an RB seat on offer to Lawson, with Red Bull’s Perez enduring another difficult run of form, the two drivers banged wheels at last weekend’s race and both finished outside the top 10 places.

As the paddock reconvened at Interlagos ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Lawson faced the media and – understandably – was asked to reflect on the coming together and the conversations that had taken place internally.

“I mean, in every race, there’s so many things you go over, so many things you can do better,” said Lawson on Thursday. “Overall, yes, for sure, there’s obviously stuff in there that could have been better, but I’ll take those things and learn from it going into this weekend.”

Asked if he was driving more aggressively given the pressure to prove himself quickly, Lawson added: “I’m just focused on having the best possible race each time I get in the car. Honestly, that’s all I’m trying to do at the moment. Maybe I’m aggressive, but I’m here for one reason.

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“Obviously my goal is not to go out and make enemies of anybody. I’m not trying to cause any issues or anything like that. At the same time, I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to win – that’s what I’m focused on doing.

“In this situation, we’re fighting very hard for P6 in the constructors’ [standings], and I’m fighting for my future in F1 as well, so that’s what I’m focused on.”

Lawson went on to offer an apology to Perez, after television footage showed him gesturing in the Mexican’s direction when overtaking him later in the race.

“In the moment things are very heated and obviously I apologise for what I did last week,” he commented. “It’s not something I should have done, and it’s something I won’t be doing again.”

Regarding what he told Red Bull bosses post-race, and whether that included his aforementioned “fighting for my future” comments, Lawson said: “As I said before, I’ve learned from that race, but of course, it’s something I said.

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“They know why I’m here and it’s something I’ve said for many years. All of us from F1 are only here for one reason. At the same time as apologising, it’s also what I told them.”

As Lawson touched on, RB now find themselves 10 points behind Haas in the battle for sixth position in the constructors’ championship, with the US-led operation moving clear via a double score last time out in Mexico.