Lawson Vows to Learn from Singapore Crash, Praises 'Fast Car'

Despite a crash during FP2 at the Singapore Grand Prix, Liam Lawson remains optimistic about the remainder of the weekend, emphasizing the speed of his Racing Bulls car. Lawson's incident, which caused the second red flag of the session, occurred after he took too much curb, but he believes the team made significant progress in car setup.

Why it matters:

• Lawson's performance and learning curve are crucial for his future in F1, especially as he aims to secure a permanent seat.
• Racing Bulls' unexpected pace, as demonstrated by teammate Isack Hadjar's P2 finish in FP2, suggests they could be dark horses for points in Singapore, a circuit known for throwing up surprises.

The Details:

• FP2 Incident: Lawson lost control in Turns 16 and 17, taking too much curb, which led to him hitting the wall in the penultimate corner. The damage forced him to stop at the pit lane entry, causing a red flag.
• Car Performance: Despite the crash, Lawson was positive about the car's speed, stating, "I think overall the car is very fast." He noted that changes made between FP1 and FP2 significantly improved the car's feel and short-run pace.
• Teammate's Strong Showing: Isack Hadjar, Lawson's teammate, finished an impressive second in FP2, only behind Oscar Piastri. This result further underlines the potential of the Racing Bulls package.
• Learning and Improvement: Lawson is determined to learn from his mistake, stating, "I'll learn from obviously what happened today, and we'll try to put it together for tomorrow."

The Big Picture:

• The Singapore Grand Prix often sees unexpected teams and drivers perform well due to its challenging street circuit nature and high potential for incidents.
• Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri) has shown flashes of potential this season, and a strong showing in Singapore could provide a much-needed boost for the team in the constructors' championship.
• For Lawson, every session is an opportunity to prove his capabilities and make a case for a permanent F1 seat, especially with his current role as a substitute driver.

What's Next:

• Racing Bulls will continue to fine-tune their car overnight, aiming to maintain their competitive edge for qualifying and the race.
• Lawson's focus will be on executing a clean qualifying session and avoiding further errors, translating the car's strong short-run pace into a good grid position.
• The team, alongside Aston Martin, appears to be in contention for points, suggesting a potentially exciting and unpredictable weekend ahead.