Tensions Rise Between Racing Bulls Drivers in Las Vegas Practise Session

The debut race weekend in Las Vegas has proven eventful for Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson, who found himself entangled in a tense situation with teammate Yuki Tsunoda during the final practice session before qualifying. The young Kiwi was heard expressing frustration over the team radio after Tsunoda, attempting to avoid a collision on track, reportedly came too close for comfort.

The incident occurred on the final lap of the session, resulting in Lawson stating, «Mate, Yuki just about rear-ended me,» to his race engineer. The session was marked by both Racing Bulls drivers posting among the five slowest times.

Former Formula 1 driver and commentator Karun Chandhok remarked on the incident during the broadcast, suggesting that Lawson bore some responsibility for the close encounter but also attributing blame to the Racing Bulls team. «You were dawdling on the racing line,» Chandhok commented, emphasizing that such situations should not occur between teammates. «Actually, I blame the team. You should never have that situation between your two cars,» added Chandhok.

Lawson has found it challenging to keep pace during practice, finishing with a time ranking of fifth slowest or worse across all three practice runs leading into the qualifying session. His performance is crucial as he seeks to secure a position in the high-stakes Formula 1 series for the next season, either continuing with Racing Bulls or potentially moving to their sister team, Red Bull Racing.

Yuki Tsunoda, meanwhile, managed to out-qualify Lawson, advancing to Q3 and securing a spot among the top 10 starters on the grid for Sunday’s race in Las Vegas. This performance adds to the internal competition as both Lawson and Tsunoda are under consideration to replace the underperforming Sergio Perez at Red Bull Racing.

The competitive dynamic within Racing Bulls is further underscored by the ongoing evaluation process, with Lawson’s performance across the final six races of the 2024 season serving as a stress test to determine his readiness for a potential promotion to the senior team in 2025. The decision regarding the team’s lineup for the upcoming season remains unconfirmed.