Liam Lawson Overcomes Software Glitch to Secure P9 at US Grand Prix

Liam Lawson navigated a challenging United States Grand Prix to finish ninth, further cementing his position as the "best of the rest" in the Drivers' Championship. While the result was a positive step for the New Zealander, a persistent software malfunction during a critical Virtual Safety Car (VSC) phase nearly compromised his race pace.

Why it matters:

Consistency is the primary currency for drivers fighting for a permanent seat in the mid-field. By extending his championship lead over Alpine's Pierre Gasly to 35 points, Lawson is proving he can handle both the pressure of the race and the unpredictability of technical failures, maintaining a streak of points-scoring finishes that keeps him in the spotlight.

The details:

• The Glitch: During a VSC period triggered by Valtteri Bottas's Cadillac retirement, Lawson's delta alarm—designed to warn drivers if they are exceeding the speed limit—became stuck.
• The Impact: The loud, continuous beeping led Lawson to believe he was "illegal" on the delta, forcing him to slow down significantly despite already being six seconds under the limit.
• Software Bug: Lawson noted that the issue appeared to be a widespread software bug rather than an isolated mechanical failure.
• Strategic Play: Racing Bulls opted to save Lawson's fresh tyres by not setting a lap time in Q3, a gamble that paid off with a stable race pace on Sunday.

The big picture:

This weekend marked a turning point for Racing Bulls with the introduction of new aerodynamic parts. The fact that both Lawson and teammate Arvid Lindblad progressed to the qualifying shoot-out indicates that the upgrades are delivering a tangible performance boost, allowing the team to compete more aggressively against the top four outfits.

What's next:

With the new upgrades working as intended, the focus shifts to refining the chassis's reliability. If Racing Bulls can eliminate these distracting software bugs, Lawson is well-positioned to maintain his momentum and solidify his status as a top-tier mid-field contender as the 2026 season enters its final stretch.