Liam Lawson upbeat after productive Friday practice at Suzuka

Liam Lawson enjoyed a productive Friday at the Japanese Grand Prix, finishing eighth in FP1 and 12th in FP2 as he and Racing Bulls dialed in their car setup for the high-speed Suzuka circuit. The New Zealander reported significant improvements in the car's balance, setting the stage for a tight midfield battle in qualifying.

Why it matters:

After scoring points in both the Sprint and Grand Prix in China, Lawson and Racing Bulls are riding a wave of momentum. A strong performance at a demanding, high-speed track like Suzuka would further validate the team's recent progress and Lawson's own growing reputation as a consistent points contender in the ultra-competitive midfield pack.

The details:

• Lawson's lap time of 1m31.590s in FP2 placed him 12th, with the team making setup changes between sessions to address high-speed handling issues.
• He stated the car's balance "improved significantly" after these changes, leaving the team in a "good position" to optimize for qualifying.
• Team Principal Alan Permane emphasized the extreme tightness of the midfield, noting that "a tenth either way could put us top or bottom of the midfield."
• The day was less productive for rookie teammate Arvid Lindblad, whose FP2 session ended on the out lap due to an internal gearbox failure.
  • The team has identified the issue and will fit a new gearbox for Saturday, but the lost track time is a significant setback for the rookie's preparation.

What's next:

All eyes are on a potentially chaotic qualifying session where minuscule margins will decide the midfield order. Lawson will aim to convert Friday's promising setup work into a strong grid position, keeping his points-scoring streak alive. For Lindblad, the priority is a trouble-free FP3 to catch up on lost data before facing his first Suzuka qualifying challenge.