Liam Lawson discovers stewards fate after Jeddah practice incidents

04/18/2025 11:58 AM

Liam Lawson has been handed a reprimand by Saudi Arabian Grand Prix stewards for a practice infringement in Jeddah.  The Racing Bulls driver was summoned over entering the painted area between the pit-entry and the track itself, something prohibited in race director Rui Marques' pre-race notes. Lawson did this for the first time 14 minutes into FP1, but was only handed a warning as it was in free practice, with the stewards deciding that "we did not think a more severe penalty than a warning was necessary." The team did not then warn Lawson of what he had done, and seven minutes later, he did the same thing, with the stewards finding Lawson had "no doubt" breached the instruction again. The stewards examined team radio, and with at least three laps between the two incidents, it was felt that the team could have informed Lawson, who was not informed as he was on a push lap, and committed the second offence before the team could then inform him.  The panel also found that "the driver ought to know what is in the event notes", with Lawson confirming that he was aware of the instruction, with the penalty being a reprimand for the second breach.