The rivalry between Liam Lawson and Sergio Pérez is not new. Since the episodes related to the fight for a seat at Red Bull, then their encounters on track, the two men regularly find themselves in tense situations during races.

In Montreal, the sprint once again offered a heated episode between the Racing Bulls driver and the Mexican, now racing for Cadillac. Starting from far back, Lawson found himself battling in the heart of the pack, where he quickly crossed paths with his former rival.

An incident that prompts Lawson to react

According to Lawson, the nature of the duel with Pérez forces him to adapt his approach on track, lest he lose time… or take too many risks.

“I have to be careful when I race against him, explained the New Zealander. He is quite aggressive, and at one point he pushed me off the track. I simply decided not to really fight with him anymore. It’s not worth it for nonexistent points.”

The incident did not go without consequences for the Mexican driver. The stewards handed Sergio Pérez a 10-second penalty after judging his maneuver too defensive and irregular in the battle with Lawson.

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The official report states that Pérez’s car changed direction several times on the straight before turn 13, forcing Lawson off the track.

This penalty ultimately changed the sprint classification, allowing Lawson to gain a position after the checkered flag.

A rivalry that seems far from over

Between repeated incidents and still recent memories of tensions at Red Bull, the relationship between the two drivers remains clearly electric.

And according to Lawson, every duel against Pérez now requires a particular reading… and a good dose of caution.

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