Formula 1 Australian GP
Lawson frustrated after Q1 exit in disastrous Australian GP qualifying
Liam Lawson was knocked out in Q1 ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
Lydia Mee
Edited: Mar 15, 2025, 6:05 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Liam Lawson, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Liam Lawson will start the Australian Grand Prix from 18th after an early exit from Qualifying.
The Kiwi ran into issues during the third and final practice which resulted in him missing the majority of the session while the Red Bull team worked on the car. Although the team was able to get the RB21 ready in time, Lawson ran wide at Turn 3, which ended up being detrimental to his qualifying session.
While speaking to the media after the Q1 exit, Lawson explained:
"We expected the start of Quali to be tough. To be honest, the first laps were expected to be off, and then we were just planning on building through the session. But obviously going off on that second lap put everything out of order a bit.
"And then [the] last lap was good, honestly, just until the last sector where I had a big drop so yeah missing P3 obviously doesn't help any of this, but I shouldn't be going off in Quali."
When asked where he was before the issue, Lawson explained:
"So before Turn 9, we were about half a second up. I'd already had a snap at Turns 9 and 10.
Liam Lawson, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
"I think tyres were already starting to drop there, so that's something we've been battling this weekend and something that we missed practicing in P3. I haven't really done much high-fuel running. I think we feel we have found improvements with the car regardless of this. Obviously, Max is in a very good position so we have definitely made a step."
In a separate interview with the media, including Motorsport.com, Lawson explained:
"I think we made a big step today, or at least Max said this morning the car was in a better window, which was positive. I think obviously, for me not doing the laps made it pretty tough.
"It's not like this car's way harder to drive, and that's why I made mistakes. I think it's a tough track, lack of lack of driving and then being stupid looking forward to the rain tomorrow.
"I would love some rain, I think it's hard to overtake, so where we're starting, if it's dry, it's gonna be pretty hard, so rain would be nice."
Lawson has not raced at Albert Park before so the lack of running time will leave him on the back foot for the Grand Prix tomorrow.
Speaking prior to qualifying, Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko explained:
"For Lawson, though, it’s extremely difficult because he hasn’t been able to test the changes we made to the car. He’ll have to rely entirely on Max’s setup."
Photos from Australian GP - Qualifying
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Australian Grand Prix - Saturday
Formula 1
75
Read Also:
Formula 1Red Bull confirms Liam Lawson's car issue as pressure mounts for qualifying
Formula 1Red Bull can’t win Australian GP “under normal conditions” – Marko
Formula 1How the Australian Grand Prix has become the ultimate fan destination
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article F1 Australian GP live commentary and updates - Qualifying
Next article Bearman owns up to costly errors: "Clumsiness from my side, honestly"
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lydia Mee
Laurent Mekies credited with ending Red Bull's second seat "curse"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Laurent Mekies credited with ending Red Bull's second seat "curse"
Guenther Steiner jokes Christian Horner Ferrari talk is good book publicity
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Guenther Steiner jokes Christian Horner Ferrari talk is good book publicity
Kimi Antonelli has "spooked himself" amid F1 title pressure, says Naomi Schiff
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Kimi Antonelli has "spooked himself" amid F1 title pressure, says Naomi Schiff
More from
Liam Lawson
Who slept worst last night: Nikola Tsolov
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Who slept worst last night: Nikola Tsolov
Racing Bulls "not in a rush" to decide between three "fantastic" drivers for F1 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Racing Bulls "not in a rush" to decide between three "fantastic" drivers for F1 2027
Five contenders to replace Esteban Ocon at Haas for F1 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Five contenders to replace Esteban Ocon at Haas for F1 2027
More from
Red Bull Racing
How Geri Halliwell helped Christian Horner deal with fan hate
Formula 1
Formula 1
How Geri Halliwell helped Christian Horner deal with fan hate
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
Latest news
FIA ratifies key 2027 WRC sporting regulations
WRC
WRC WRC 1 h
FIA ratifies key 2027 WRC sporting regulations
Toprak Razgatlioglu to miss the rest MotoGP season due to shoulder injury
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
2 h
Toprak Razgatlioglu to miss the rest MotoGP season due to shoulder injury
MotoGP teams told Qatar Grand Prix expected to go ahead
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
2 h
MotoGP teams told Qatar Grand Prix expected to go ahead
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe