Lawson disqualified from Mexico City GP qualifying, sent to back of grid

Liam Lawson has been disqualified from qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix after his Racing Bulls car breached MGU-K power requirements. The New Zealander had qualified eighth, ahead of teammate Arvid Lindblad, but will now start from the back of the grid.

Why it matters:

The penalty strips Racing Bulls of a strong qualifying result and highlights the FIA's zero-tolerance approach to technical infringements. Even without a performance advantage, non-compliance with power unit regulations carries severe consequences, reshaping the grid for Sunday's race.

The details:

• Lawson was reported for being "in breach of the minimum MGU-K power requirement just after crossing the line on his fastest lap in Q2."
• The FIA Technical Delegate's report added that the driver maximum power demand and the electrical DC power of the ERS-K were "reduced at greater rates than what is permitted by the Regulations."
• The stewards found that Lawson did not lift off immediately after the control line, meaning the required rate of MGU-K deployment reduction was not achieved.
• Racing Bulls argued the breach gave no performance advantage, but the stewards stressed that non-compliance is not excused by a lack of advantage and that cars must comply at all times.
• The team self-disclosed the breach, yet the stewards cited multiple precedents requiring disqualification despite mitigating circumstances.
• Lawson had already received a one-place grid penalty for an FP2 incident with Max Verstappen, which would have left him starting ninth.

What's next:

Lawson faces a recovery drive from the back of the grid, while Racing Bulls must regroup after a promising session turned sour. The disqualification also promotes every driver who qualified behind him, adding another layer of intrigue to the Mexico City Grand Prix.