New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson. Photo: AFP
A frustrating race weekend for New Zealand driver Liam Lawson has finished with a retirement in the Miami Grand Prix.
Lawson has had a number of disappointing outings in Formula One in 2025 and it continued on Monday.
Starting 15th on the grid, the 23-year-old Racing Bulls' driver collided with Jack Doohan on the first turn which forced the Alpine driver out of the race.
Lawson suffered damage of his own but was able to continue.
After the race, he told F1 he wasn't really sure what caused the collision.
"I had a good launch, a gap opened up through the middle going into turn one and I took it and then I just felt being hit from the side," Lawson said.
"I'll need to watch it back but, obviously, it's destroyed the floor and we've had to retire."
After the spin, Lawson was able to continue, but was well off the pace.
"It is not a nice feeling when you know you're in for a long afternoon."
With Racing Bulls and Lawson nursing the car, they remained on track hoping that the forecast rain would arrive allowing them to try a different strategy with the car and the chance of picking up points.
However, Lawson admitted that that probably was a long shot.
"There was the tiniest bit of hope but the car was broken anyway so I think it was going to be a tough one regardless."
Lawson eventually pitted and retired after 38 of the 57 laps.
Racing Bulls New Zealand driver Liam Lawson and Alpine's Australian driver Jack Doohan. Photo: AFP
It completes a forgettable weekend for Lawson who finished seventh in the Sprint race on Sunday, but then lost his first championship points of the season when stewards decided he had caused the collision which ended Fernando Alonso's race.
The time penalty dropped him out of the points.
It is Lawson's first retirement this season. His best GP results have been 12th in both Shanghai and Saudi Arabia.
Australian Oscar Piastri won the Miami GP from McLaren team-mate Lando Norris to extend his lead in the driver's championship.
Piastri is now 16 points in front with the next race at Imola next weekend.
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