F1 fans all reach the same verdict after Liam Lawson’s Qatar Sprint incident with Charles Leclerc

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Racing Bulls racer Liam Lawson had to settle for P14 in the F1 Sprint at the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix after his incident with Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc, who came home in P13.

The Lusail International Circuit has so far not proven to be a happy hunting ground for either of Lawson or Leclerc this weekend. Friday night saw Racing Bulls star Lawson qualify P17 for the final F1 Sprint this year, while Leclerc was the lead Ferrari during Sprint Qualifying in P9.

Lawson would start the Sprint at the Qatar GP from P16 on the grid, after Lance Stroll joined Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto in starting it from the pit lane. Yet Leclerc quickly found himself fighting Lawson, after plummeting down the order on the opening lap.

Overtaking chances were at a very high premium throughout the 19 laps, as McLaren driver Oscar Piastri won the Sprint at the Qatar GP. So, Leclerc making a mistake on Lap 11 offered Lawson a key chance that the New Zealander could not utilise, to the dismay of a lot of fans.

F1 fans cannot believe Liam Lawson had to yield P13 to Charles Leclerc in the Qatar Sprint

Leclerc had an aggressive snap after dropping the left-hand side of his Ferrari into the gravel strip on the outside of Turn 4 on Lap 11 of 19. The moment allowed Lawson to get alongside for Turn 5, but Leclerc utilised holding the inside line to force the Kiwi wide and off the road.

READ MORE: Everything to know about the F1 Qatar Grand Prix, including past winners

However, Lawson refused to yield the place and kept his throttle floored to emerge ahead of Leclerc before the Turn 6 hairpin. Yet Racing Bulls quickly told Lawson to give Leclerc back P13 at the start of Lap 12, which the Hastings native duly obliged and moved aside at Turn 1.

Lots of F1 fans could not believe that Lawson had to yield P13 in the Qatar Sprint to Leclerc, given the Monegasque had forced him off the track. One fan noted on X after their incident which settled their positions: “What just happened with Lawson and Leclerc is truly a joke.”

Another fan also noted: “How did Leclerc not get a penalty for the Lawson incident?” While one F1 fan stated: “Leclerc pushes Lawson off the track, and Lawson has to give the position back? I don’t understand it anymore. That’s complete nonsense.”

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The incident also saw another fan say: “Leclerc messes up, pushes Lawson out of the game, and Lawson is still forced to give the position back? What a joke.” Many F1 fans echoed the view that Lawson was wronged in the incident, with one fan claiming: “This sport is a joke.”

One fan also stated: “Nah, it’s rubbish that Lawson had to give that place back. Leclerc just forces him into a gravel trap while he’s equally alongside. Where are the drivers meant to go? F1 driving standards are dog water, at best.”

Charles Leclerc used F1’s racing guidelines to defend from Liam Lawson in the Qatar Sprint

While many F1 fans could not believe that Lawson had to yield P13 in the Qatar Sprint back to Leclerc, given the Kiwi was the one forced off the road, the Monegasque used F1’s racing guidelines to ensure the Racing Bulls star could not claim the position by going off the road.

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know

F1’s racing guidelines, on which the FIA stewards base their decisions for any investigations, note that any attempt to complete an overtake around the outside will be viewed as a more difficult manoeuvre to accomplish. So, Lawson did not meet the threshold to be given space.

Leclerc utilised the guidelines to arrive at the apex of Turn 5 with enough of his car ahead of Lawson’s VCARB 02. Lawson needed to have his front axle clearly ahead of the front axle on Leclerc’s Ferrari SF-25 at the apex, as well as keeping his car within track limits at all times.