Lawson's Audition Sparks Unexpected Feud with Alonso

Liam Lawson's six-race 2025 Red Bull audition was one of the biggest talking points ahead of the United States Grand Prix, but nobody expected it to kick off with a bizarre feud with Fernando Alonso. The intense battle for 15th and 16th place in the Austin sprint race on Saturday afternoon set the stage for an unexpected clash between the two drivers.

A Clash of Titans: Lawson and Alonso's Intense Rivalry

The Sprint Race Showdown

The fight began on the opening lap of the sprint race when Lawson made a daring move, diving down the inside of Alonso at the Turn 11 left-hander before the main straight. This aggressive maneuver sent the Aston Martin off the track, triggering Alonso's ire. The Spaniard attempted to retaliate, but Lawson's Red Bull aggressively blocked him off before and within the braking zone of the following Turn 12 left-hander.Alonso's frustration was palpable, as Lawson's defensive driving reminded him of his own huge shunt with now-teammate Lance Stroll in the same corner in 2022. The Aston Martin driver didn't hold back, voicing his displeasure over the radio, calling the AlphaTauri driver "such an idiot." Alonso's aggressive defense on lap six ultimately cost both drivers a position to Esteban Ocon, further fueling the tension between the two.

Alonso's Payback Attempt

The mini-feud didn't end with the sprint race, as Alonso seemingly sought to exact his revenge during qualifying. As the green light came on for the start of Q1, Alonso overtook Lawson's Red Bull on the run to Turn 1 out of the pits, an unusual move in a qualifying session. Alonso claimed he had a "scrubbed set" of tires and didn't want to lose more time, but Lawson believed this was Alonso's way of keeping his word to "screw" him, as the Spaniard had allegedly told Lawson after the sprint race.Alonso, however, denied that the qualifying overtake was an act of retaliation, stating that "everyone on track is behaving as he wants, and for me, today was unnecessary." The veteran driver maintained that he had no issues with Lawson and that they would likely cross paths again during the 24-race season.

Lawson's Audition and the Pressure to Perform

Lawson's aggressive driving during the sprint race was undoubtedly a result of the immense pressure he was under. As a Red Bull junior driver, he was fighting for the opportunity to become Max Verstappen's teammate, and every session of his six-week audition was being heavily scrutinized.While Alonso and Aston Martin may have been willing to take fewer risks in a fight for 15th-17th place, Lawson saw it as a chance to showcase his abilities and racecraft. He pushed the boundaries of the racing rules, coming close to repeating Alonso's scary 2022 shunt with Stroll, but ultimately kept his defense just within the regulations.Alonso, who has a history of aggressive defensive driving, has also faced his fair share of penalties for such maneuvers. The difference was that Lawson's defense in the sprint race did not result in any penalties, as he was simply making the most of his high-pressure audition.As the season progresses, it remains to be seen whether this unexpected feud between Lawson and Alonso will continue to simmer or if the two drivers will be able to put aside their differences and focus on their respective goals. One thing is certain: Lawson's audition has already provided a thrilling and unexpected subplot to the 2025 Formula 1 season.