Racing Bulls Secure Crucial Points Amidst Unseen Final-Lap Team-Mate Contact at Brazilian Grand Prix

The Interlagos circuit witnessed a dramatic return to form for Racing Bulls at the Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix, as the Anglo-Italian squad secured a vital double points finish for the first time in three weekends. Rookie sensation Liam Lawson, navigating a bold one-stop strategy, clinched a hard-fought seventh place, closely followed by team-mate Isack Hadjar in eighth. However, the celebrated points haul was almost jeopardized by a tense, untelevised wheel-to-wheel clash between the two drivers on the very final lap of the race, highlighting the high stakes and fierce competition even within a team vying for crucial championship positions.

The incident unfolded on the 71st and final lap of the Grand Prix. Lawson, having executed an impressive 52-lap stint on the medium compound tyres, found himself under immense pressure not only from Hadjar but also a tightly packed group of midfield competitors. The battle for positions seventh and eighth intensified as the cars surged towards Turn 1, a critical braking zone at the start of the lap. Hadjar, seeking to capitalize on his fresher tyres and superior pace in the closing stages, attempted an audacious overtake around the outside of Lawson. As the two cars converged at the apex of the corner, they made wheel-to-wheel contact. Hadjar experienced a momentary snap of oversteer but managed to regain control, while Lawson, maintaining his line, secured his seventh-place finish. This critical moment, replete with the raw tension of on-track rivalry, remarkably escaped the live television broadcast, which was at the time focused on the high-profile duel between Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen for second position at the front of the field.

In the immediate aftermath, Isack Hadjar was candid about the contact. Speaking to Sky Sports, the young Frenchman admitted to an aggressive maneuver. "I pushed it a little too much," Hadjar stated, reflecting on the final lap. "But honestly, it was very fun. He went on a one-stop and on the very last lap, I’m in his gearbox. I think you can’t do any better than that. And I tried and I overdid it, kind of my mistake." His remarks indicated a clear acknowledgement of responsibility for the contact, albeit framed within the context of intense racing for position.

Liam Lawson, known for his robust racing style and unwillingness to back down from a challenge, viewed the incident with a pragmatic lens. Despite the inherent taboo of team-mate contact, particularly in a points-scoring position, Lawson expressed understanding for Hadjar’s intent. "He was going for a move. It’s the type of corner that curves in and he’s obviously trying to clear me before the braking and I think just misjudged it," Lawson explained. Crucially, he emphasized the positive outcome for the team: "But we both came out of it, so it was okay, and more importantly, for the team to have two cars seventh and eighth is great today." Lawson further articulated the racing driver’s mindset in such situations, adding, "It’s the last lap of a race. Honestly, as much as it’s the ideal thing to do, there’s no way that we’re not going to race for a position like that. So I respect that obviously we’re lucky that we came out of it but it’s been a great weekend for the team." His comments underscored the fine line drivers walk between aggressive racing and team cohesion, especially when championship points are at stake.

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The team principal, Alan Permane, echoed a similar sentiment, indicating a degree of trust in his drivers to manage such situations. He affirmed that his drivers "ended up racing each other, which we trusted them to do," suggesting that while contact is never ideal, the team prefers to allow its drivers to compete within reasonable bounds, particularly in the heat of a race’s final moments. This stance reflects a common philosophy in Formula 1, where the desire for maximum performance often outweighs strict team orders, provided both cars finish and contribute to the team’s objectives.

Beyond the final-lap drama, Hadjar’s race was marked by an earlier strategic misstep that left him feeling dissatisfied despite the points finish. The Frenchman expressed frustration with the timing of his first pitstop, which he believed cost him a higher position. Hadjar had been leading the midfield pack in a strong fifth place when a premature pit call allowed Haas’s Oliver Bearman to execute a successful undercut. Bearman subsequently finished ahead of both Racing Bulls cars, securing a sixth-place finish. Hadjar emerged from his pitstop into traffic, specifically behind Bearman and the second Haas of Esteban Ocon, who was running on older medium tyres. His race engineer later apologized for an error in the team’s strategy tools, acknowledging the impact on Hadjar’s race trajectory.

"It’s not a good day for me," Hadjar lamented, despite the team’s overall success. "The strategy on the first stint was not good. We lost a bit of time. We tried to make up for it. But we didn’t have an amazing pace for that." He recognized the broader implications for the team, stating, "We had a very good Sunday, points-wise. It helps us for sixth place. But it’s not a good day for me." This dichotomy highlights the individual aspirations of drivers within the collective goals of a team, where personal performance can sometimes overshadow the broader team success.

The double points finish at Interlagos provided a significant boost for Racing Bulls in the fiercely contested battle for sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship. After three consecutive scoreless weekends, the 10 points accumulated by Lawson and Hadjar allowed the team to regain momentum. Heading into the crucial final triple-header of the season, Racing Bulls now stands on 82 points. This places them a vital 10 points clear of seventh-placed Aston Martin and 12 points ahead of Haas, who have shown impressive form in recent weekends, particularly through the consistent points-scoring performances of Oliver Bearman. The Constructors’ Championship holds immense financial implications for teams, with prize money allocated based on final standings, making every point a valuable commodity.

The Brazilian Grand Prix, held at the iconic Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos, is renowned for its challenging layout, elevation changes, and often unpredictable weather conditions. This year’s race, while featuring a clear battle at the front, also showcased the intense competition throughout the midfield. Racing Bulls, formerly known as AlphaTauri, has been engaged in a season-long effort to establish themselves as consistent midfield contenders. The team’s performance at Interlagos, despite the internal friction, demonstrated their potential to extract strong results, particularly through strategic gambles and determined driving. Liam Lawson, a highly-rated Red Bull junior, has consistently impressed in his F1 outings, proving his capability under pressure. Isack Hadjar, as a rookie, is in the process of adapting to the demands of Formula 1, and while his aggressive maneuver was acknowledged as a mistake, it also underscored his hunger to compete at the highest level.

As the season approaches its climax with the final triple-header, the battle for the Constructors’ Championship will remain a focal point. Racing Bulls’ ability to manage their internal dynamics while maximizing their on-track performance will be critical in fending off the challenges from Aston Martin and Haas, who are equally motivated to climb the standings. The unseen clash at Interlagos serves as a vivid reminder of the unrelenting pressure and high stakes that define Formula 1, where every position, every point, and every on-track encounter can shape the destiny of drivers and teams alike.

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Jonas Leo: Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.