Liam Lawson Brazilian Grand Prix result, Digi Mart USA News (Interlagos, Brazil): At a time when his Formula One future is largely out of his hands, qualifying third for the Brazilian Grand Prix is as good a statement Liam Lawson could have made. The Kiwi earned his 10th top-10 start of the year in a chaotic qualifying session that was delayed by more than an hour due to torrential rain at Interlagos.
His best lap time of 1m 28.321s was only enough for fifth place in the final stage of qualifying (Q3). However, grid penalties to Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, of five and 10 places respectively, promoted Lawson to the second row for the second time in his career.
Starting third equals the best qualifying position of Lawson’s career, achieved at last year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he also managed his best race result of fifth place. Lawson was Red Bull’s fastest car across its two teams, with his closest stablemate, Isack Hadjar, qualifying seventh but starting fifth.
Racing Bulls teammate Arvid Lindblad could only manage 12th after suffering a mechanical issue in Q2. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen starts 21st after a 30-place grid penalty for a power unit change.
Lawson’s best lap was 0.851s off the pace set by McLaren’s Lando Norris on pole, while newly crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli starts alongside him on the front row.
Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg will join Lawson on the second row. Constructors’ championship rivals Alpine suffered a setback as neither car advanced from Q1.
Lawson’s qualifying began with a red flag less than two minutes into Q1, prompting teams to rethink strategies. Once the session resumed close to 90 minutes later, drivers faced an effective shootout as the track dried.
Lawson’s best time of 1m 32.085s was enough for seventh place in Q1, and neither Alpine car escaped Q1, with Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly qualifying 17th and 18th.
Entering Q2, Lawson’s chances improved when Verstappen did not return to the track. Lawson changed to intermediate tyres and posted a lap of 1m 27.049s to advance into the top 10 in second, just 0.304s behind session leader Russell.
Lindblad stopped on track at turn five and was eliminated in 12th, as Q2 was stopped when Haas debutant Rafael Camara hit the barriers.
Lawson was unable to better his Q2 time as more rain fell before Q3, but he equaled his career-best grid position. The 71-lap race was expected to see more rain, and Lawson was positioned to perform in conditions he excels in.
The race was scheduled to begin at 6am on Monday.
