Lawson Penalized for Erratic Defense in Abu Dhabi Finale

In the season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson received a five-second time penalty and an additional penalty point on his superlicense for erratic defensive maneuvers against Oliver Bearman's Haas on the approach to Turns 8 and 9. The incident contributed to a challenging race for both drivers, with Lawson finishing 18th, a lap down, and Bearman settling for 12th after narrowly missing the points.

The stewards reviewed onboard video evidence and determined that Lawson's car made several unpredictable moves as Bearman closed in during the closing stages. Lawson, who started 13th and briefly climbed near the points after the opening lap, acknowledged the penalty afterward. "I was defending against him," he said. "To be fair, I moved quite late, so it was probably my bad. It wasn't intentional, but I guess that's why I got the penalty." The penalty elevated Lawson's total to six points within his 12-month window, halfway to the 12-point threshold that triggers an automatic one-race ban, as seen with Kevin Magnussen earlier in the season.

This marked the second clash between Lawson and the 19-year-old Bearman in recent weeks. In the Brazilian Grand...