Under pressure Lawson admits “I don’t really have time” to find confidence
Liam Lawson's Chinese GP weekend disappointment continues with a P20 start for the race tomorrow.
The pressure is mounting on Red Bull driver Liam Lawson after a challenging weekend so far in Shanghai.
After starting the Chinese sprint race from 20th, the Kiwi finished the race in 14th, and has now been eliminated in Q1 confirming a P20 start for the Chinese Grand Prix tomorrow.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after his early elimination, Lawson explained:
"It's just really tough, honestly. I think the window's really small, I mean that's known, but honestly, it's not an excuse.
"I've got to get a handle of it. It was a messy session and had we not dealt with traffic and stuff like that, it might have been OK, but to be honest, it's still not good enough to be having those issues. And that's the reason that we get knocked out, we should be fast enough on our first lap.
"We should be. It shouldn't be an issue, so I just need to get on top of it."
Asked what he needs to get on top of it, Lawson responded:
Liam Lawson, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
"I think it's just time. Unfortunately I don't really have time, but it's just one of those things. I mean to drive a Formula 1 car, it takes 100% confidence in what you're doing and it's not that I don't feel confident, but the window's so small that right now I just seem to miss it. It's that that I just need to get a handle on.
"So yeah, I don't know how else to put it really, it's just not good enough."
Adding to the scrutiny of the 23-year-old is the current form of Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver, who missed out on the Red Bull seat to Lawson, has had a strong start to the year. Tsunoda collected three points in the sprint race with a sixth-place finish.
In the season-opening race in Australia, Lawson was out-qualified by Tsunoda, with the former starting in 18th and the latter in fifth. The Racing Bulls driver finished the Australian Grand Prix in 12th, and Lawson was forced to retire after a crash in the wet weather.
Photos from Chinese GP - Sprint Race & Qualifying
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
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2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Saturday
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