At the Red Bull Ring, Racing Bulls’ midfield battle turned sour when a team order to hold position was ignored, sparking a dispute between rookie Arvid Lindblad and his more experienced teammate Liam Lawson. The pair started the race in ninth and tenth, but an undercut threat from Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto prompted the team to pit Lindblad first. After rejoining, Lindblad cut past Lawson into Turn 3, then was told by race engineer Pierre Hamelin to “lift off” and stay behind. Lawson later asked his engineer Alexandre Iliopoulos whether Lindblad would respect the instruction; Iliopoulos assured him the rookie would not attack.
Despite the reassurance, Lindblad braked later into Turn 4 and forced Lawson wide, prompting a frustrated exchange over the radio. Lawson complained that he was “stuck” behind Lindblad before executing a one‑lap undercut to retake the position. In the final stint, Lindblad received a firmer “hold position” command and complied, allowing the team to finish ninth and tenth.
Post‑race, Lawson said the mixed messages cost him time and suggested an internal review, while Lindblad shrugged it off, noting the double‑points haul and his own solid drive. The episode highlights the challenges of managing team orders in a tightly contested midfield.
