Liam Lawson will start the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix from the back of the grid, following a technical breach in qualifying.
It has been a weekend to forget for the Kiwi driver, who has been a consistent midfield force this season. During Friday’s second practice session, Lawson clashed with former teammate Max Verstappen on track. The incident earned both drivers a one-place grid penalty for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
However, Lawson’s woes didn’t stop there. An impressive qualifying performance saw the Kiwi starting from seventh. But following a trip to the stewards, Lawson was disqualified from the session and relegated to he back of the grid.
MGUK breach causes Liam Lawson to contravene regulations
The stewards found that the Racing Bulls driver failed to lift off the power immediately after his flying lap in Q2.
“Evidence submitted, which was accepted by all parties present, showed that after the control line at the end of his fastest lap in Q2. The driver did not lift off the power immediately,” The stewards’ document read.
“This resulted in the rate of reduction of MGUK deployment required to achieve the regulated “step down” not being achieved.”
Crucially, Racing Bulls argued the incident didn’t give Lawson a competitive advantage. Regardless, breaking the technical directives resulted in a penalty.
“The Stewards note in particular that the team self-disclosed the breach. However, there are a multitude of precedents that require us, despite all mitigating circumstances, to impose a penalty of disqualification where a car does not comply with the Technical Regulations.”
In a difficult weekend, Lawson will look to fight his way through the field to earn a long-awaited contract extension with his team.
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