Why it matters: Liam Lawson expressed bewilderment over an unexpected performance drop in his Racing Bulls during Q3 of the Dutch Grand Prix qualifying. Despite a strong showing in earlier sessions, his lap time inexplicably worsened, highlighting the challenging and unpredictable nature of Zandvoort and F1 tyres. This issue also affected several other top drivers, indicating a broader track or condition-related factor.
The details:
- Lawson secured eighth on the grid at Zandvoort, while his teammate Isack Hadjar impressed with a fourth-place start.
- Lawson consistently improved his lap times in Q1 (1:09.779) and Q2 (1:09.383).
- However, in Q3, he posted a 1:09.500, which was slower than his Q2 time.
- Similar Q3 slowdowns were observed for other prominent drivers, including Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz, and Fernando Alonso.
- Lawson attributed the difficulty to potential factors such as unpredictable wind gusts and the high sensitivity of the tyres, which made precise car placement challenging.
What he said: Despite the frustration regarding the Q3 performance dip, Lawson remained positive, acknowledging the