Kiwi F1 driver Liam Lawson has finished 16th in the Las Vegas Grand Prix after a collision on the opening lap derailed his race.
The Racing Bulls driver locked up at the first turn and clipped McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, damaging the front of his car and sending him tumbling down the order.
Both Piastri and Lawson were investigated over the Turn 1 incident, but stewards ruled no further action was necessary.
Lawson spent the remainder of the race at the back of the grid and eventually crossed the line second to last of the remaining runners – an unfortunate result for the Kiwi, who previously described his Las Vegas outing last season as his "worst race" of the year.
Lawson’s teammate Isack Hadjar finished eighth, while Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, Lawson’s main rival for a seat next year, came home 14th.
At the front, Max Verstappen claimed his sixth win of the season, cutting into championship leader Lando Norris’ advantage and keeping the title fight alive.
It capped off a chaotic opening lap. Pole-sitter Norris attempted a bold move to fend off Verstappen during the race start but ran wide at the first corner, losing the position.
Mercedes’ George Russell also swept past Norris to take second, a position Norris eventually managed to reclaim, while Verstappen seized control of the race.
Piastri finished the race in fourth, with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli rounding out the top five.
Three races remain in the 2025 Formula 1 season – the Qatar sprint and main race, followed by the Abu Dhabi finale.
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