Liam Lawson Claims 'Really Loose' Car Hindered São Paulo Qualifying Performance

Liam Lawson believes a sudden and unexpected 'loose' condition in his car during his final qualifying lap at the São Paulo Grand Prix prevented him from securing a better starting position. Despite the frustration, his Racing Bulls team had a strong showing, getting both cars into Q3, a notable achievement on a day when sister team Red Bull experienced a rare double Q1 elimination.

Why it matters:

Lawson's comments highlight the fine margins and unpredictable nature of Formula 1 qualifying, where a minor, sudden change in car behavior can have significant consequences. For Racing Bulls, securing two cars in Q3 demonstrates their potential to compete higher up the grid, especially as they aim to establish themselves as a strong midfield contender.

The Details:

• Lawson qualified seventh, two positions behind his teammate Isack Hadjar, marking a strong overall performance for Racing Bulls.
• The Red Bull team, in contrast, suffered its first double Q1 elimination in 19 years in the same session, underscoring the unexpected challenges faced by even top teams.
• Lawson reported that his car became "really loose" at Turn 1 on his final qualifying attempt, an issue he claims had not been present throughout the earlier parts of qualifying.
• He stated this unexpected looseness cost him a "good chunk of lap time" and several grid positions, indicating the severity of the problem.
• Despite his personal frustration, Lawson acknowledged the strong team result of having both cars in Q3.
• Looking ahead to the race, Lawson admitted uncertainty about his race pace, as his car sustained damage from a clash with Oliver Bearman during the sprint race, limiting his data on long-run performance.

What's next:

Lawson and Racing Bulls will be focused on translating their strong qualifying pace into race performance. The challenge will be to manage race strategy and car reliability, especially given Lawson's limited understanding of his car's long-run pace due to the sprint race incident. Their ability to hold positions and fight for points will be a key test of their progress this season.