Lawson explains Sao Paulo intermediate-tyre dilemma after strong drive

Liam Lawson has explained the intermediate-tyre dilemma that shaped his Sao Paulo Grand Prix, saying drivers had to choose between pushing through early graining and protecting the rubber. He started third at Interlagos, passed polesitter Lando Norris and ran second behind Kimi Antonelli before the track dried and his opening stint faded.

Why it matters:

Light drizzle forced the field onto intermediates without keeping the track fully wet. With graining starting on Lap 1, every lap became a trade-off between pace and tyre life.

The details:

• Lawson moved from third to second by passing Norris, then chased leader Antonelli.
• As rain eased, the track dried and graining hit drivers including Lawson and Lewis Hamilton.
• "You never know whether to push through the graining and wear it off, or try to look after the tyre and stop the graining," he said.
• He finished eighth on the road but was promoted to seventh after Charles Leclerc's Turn 12 bump-and-run penalty on Lap 69 as rain returned.
• Lawson felt his team maximised the race and wished it had stayed wet.

What's next:

Lawson will review whether he could have handled the intermediate phase differently. His bigger takeaway is that his team is topping the midfield, the target every weekend.