Lawson disappointed by Racing Bulls qualifying at Suzuka after balance issues

Dominika Jordan
Apr 5, 2025, 7:28 AM ET

Liam Lawson starts 13th at Suzuka after balance issues despite strong Friday practice showing.

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

SUZUKA, Japan -- Liam Lawson expressed disappointment after a challenging return to qualifying with Racing Bulls at the iconic Suzuka Circuit. The New Zealander admitted he “hit a wall” with the balance of the VCARB 02 car, which stymied his performance.

After an impressive showing during Friday practice, where Lawson and his teammate Isack Hadjar took fifth and third in FP2 respectively, expectations were high. Lawson spoke positively about his car’s handling, contrasting it with the Red Bull he raced in Australia and China.

Despite Hadjar's impressive ability to overcome seat belt issues to secure a Q3 spot, Lawson's efforts fell short, leaving him to start 13th at Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix. This starting position comes after a penalty to Carlos Sainz for impeding Lewis Hamilton.

Reflecting on the session, where he finished ahead of new Red Bull Racing driver Yuki Tsunoda, Lawson noted, “It was okay. I think a disappointing end, to be honest. We had a competitive car yesterday and a good Q1. We were trying to chase the balance through quali, and it got to a point in Q2 where to be honest we couldn’t really tune it much more."

He added, “Unfortunately, we just sort of hit a wall a bit and struggled in that run. Honestly, it felt like a good lap, so it’s something we’ll obviously review. That’s it.”

Looking ahead to the race, Lawson commented on the potential for rain, which could shake up the field on race day. “Obviously that’ll change everything, really, but it allows an opportunity for us to hopefully move forward. Around this place, and what we’ve seen in the past, it was quite eventful. The new [track] surface will be quite different as well to drive – in the rain, it’ll probably hold a bit more water. From where I’m starting, I wouldn’t mind a bit of rain."

Meanwhile, Hadjar will kick off the race in seventh position in the sister Racing Bulls car, having finished qualifying as the ‘best of the rest’ behind Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, the two McLarens, Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, and the two Mercedes.