Gearbox Failure Led to Lawson-Gasly Collision That Flipped Alpine in Miami GP

Key facts

• Lap 5, Turn 17: Lawson's VCARB 03 entered anti-stall mode after a gearbox failure, causing him to lose braking ability.
• Contact between Lawson and Gasly flipped Gasly's Alpine, which landed partially on the tyre barrier at Turn 17.
• Both drivers retired from the 57-lap Miami Grand Prix.
• Stewards investigated the incident post-race but took no further action against either driver.
• Gasly started P9, Lawson P11; Gasly had lost places after avoiding Max Verstappen's spin on the opening lap.
• Franco Colapinto finished P8 for Alpine, scoring points; Racing Bulls ended the weekend empty-handed with Arvid Lindblad P14.
• Lawson stated the gearbox failure gave 'absolutely zero' warning before it occurred.

A Flip That Shook the Miami Grand Prix

On the fifth lap of the Miami Grand Prix, Pierre Gasly’s Alpine cartwheeled through the air after contact with Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls car, coming to rest with its rear wheels suspended on the tyre barrier at Turn 17. The incident, which forced both drivers out of the race, triggered an immediate Safety Car and a post-race stewards’ investigation. Gasly confirmed on team radio that he was uninjured, but the visual of his car flipping upside down sent a jolt through the paddock. The stewards reviewed the collision after the race but ultimately decided to take no further action against either driver, effectively clearing Lawson of blame for the crash.

A Mechanical Failure at the Worst Moment

Lawson explained that the crash was caused by a sudden gearbox failure as he braked for Turn 17. “I just went into the last corner and when I braked, I lost the gearbox and went into neutral,” he said. “I basically had no gears and I couldn’t stop. It’s not something I’ve had before.” The Racing Bulls driver noted that the car had shown no prior warning signs. “Absolutely zero. It just failed in that moment,” he told the media. The VCARB 03 appeared to go into anti-stall mode entering the corner, leaving Lawson unable to slow sufficiently before making wheel-to-wheel contact with Gasly’s Alpine.

Gasly’s View: Avoidable and Scary

Gasly, who spoke to the media before Lawson’s explanation was public, initially described the incident as avoidable. “It shouldn’t have happened but I’m more disappointed not to get the points for the team on a weekend where we clearly deserved some,” he said. “It wasn’t pleasant inside the car and I think it could have been avoided, so it’s just a bit annoying.” After learning of the gearbox failure, Gasly acknowledged Lawson’s apology but maintained his frustration. “It was definitely a scary feeling being flipped over in a Formula 1 car so I am glad it wasn’t too serious and I was able to climb out and walk away,” he added. “I didn’t know where I was going to land, so it was not pleasant.”

Race Context: Points Lost and a Weekend of Missed Opportunities

Both drivers had started in promising positions — Gasly from P9 and Lawson from P11 — and were on course to contend for points. Gasly’s start was strong, but he was forced to take avoiding action after Max Verstappen spun on the opening lap, dropping him into the midfield pack. Lawson, meanwhile, made up several places on the first lap and was running inside the top 10 before the mechanical failure struck. The crash occurred as Gasly attempted to pass Lawson on the outside line at Turn 17. The contact spun Gasly into the air, and his car had to be recovered during the Safety Car period. Lawson also retired with damage from the collision.

Team Fallout: Alpine Scores While Racing Bulls Leaves Empty-Handed

Alpine at least salvaged some points when Franco Colapinto finished eighth, giving the team a useful haul. Racing Bulls, however, ended the weekend scoreless after Arvid Lindblad crossed the line in 14th place. The non-scoring result in Miami, combined with the mechanical issue that caused Lawson’s crash, dealt a blow to Racing Bulls’ positive trajectory after a strong start to the season. Lawson expressed frustration at the outcome. “It sucks for both of us obviously,” he said. “We haven’t really been quick enough this weekend. We had a good start, the first lap was really good – I made up a lot of places and was well inside the top 10. I was finding the balance a lot at the start of the race which is why I was actually defending. That's quite frustrating, and then obviously a mechanical [issue] to take us out is disappointing.”

What Comes Next for Lawson and Racing Bulls

The gearbox failure raises questions about the reliability of Racing Bulls’ VCARB 03, particularly after a season that had shown early promise. Lawson’s admission that the failure occurred without any prior warning will prompt a thorough investigation by the team’s engineers. For Gasly and Alpine, the focus will be on converting strong pace into points, with the Frenchman confident that clean air would have yielded a solid result. The incident also highlighted the inherent dangers of high-speed wheel-to-wheel racing, even on a circuit designed for safety. Gasly’s flip, while dramatic, ended without serious injury — a relief that both drivers acknowledged in their post-race comments.

The bottom line

• A gearbox failure on Lawson’s car caused him to lose braking ability, leading to the collision that flipped Gasly’s Alpine.
• Stewards investigated but took no further action, effectively clearing Lawson of fault.
• Gasly described the crash as avoidable and scary, though he later acknowledged Lawson’s mechanical issue.
• Both drivers retired from the race; Alpine scored points via Colapinto while Racing Bulls left empty-handed.
• The incident underscores reliability concerns for Racing Bulls and the fine margins in F1 midfield battles.
• No injuries resulted, but the crash served as a stark reminder of the sport’s physical risks.