Liam Lawson impressed in Austin, climbing from 19th to ninth, proving RB F1’s belief in the car’s potential was justified.
Liam Lawson delivered an impressive weekend in Austin, with an exceptional race. After setting the third fastest time in Q1 yesterday and starting 19th due to a penalty, the RB F1 driver climbed up to ninth place, scoring two points.
“It was a tough race, very intense. I had forgotten how hectic it gets, the race is long, and it’s cool to be proactive at the wheel,” said the New Zealander, reflecting on the race management required in a Formula 1 car.
“Setup was key, we showed the car’s potential in Q1, even though we couldn’t in Q2. We knew the car was strong, but you never know how the race will go, so it was good that it worked out.”
Besides his strong Q1 performance, Lawson is convinced he could have qualified in the top 10, though he doesn’t think he would have finished ahead of Nico Hülkenberg: “It was a good lap, yes! But with the track evolution and feeling more comfortable, I think we could have improved.”
“I was gutted we couldn’t go for Q2 and Q3, but it worked out well in the race. The Haas cars were very fast, and even if I had been closer to Nico on the grid, it would have been tough to beat them. We had a very similar race pace, but they did a great job.”
He revealed that he didn’t want to spend too much energy on his future or the discussions surrounding him, preferring to focus on driving: “It was cool! There were obviously a lot of comments before the weekend, but I just concentrated on my driving, trying to ignore that.”
“I know these races are important, no one needs to tell me that. My goal is to be in F1 next year, and I know this is a ticket to achieving that. We’re heading to Mexico, which is a very different track. All circuits are unique, there will be Sprints, so there’s a lot to do and a lot to learn.”
Lawson had a run-in with Fernando Alonso over the weekend, as the Spaniard wasn’t pleased when Lawson overtook him and held off his attacks. Despite Alonso’s harsh words, Lawson insists there’s no bad blood between them.
“I haven’t spoken to him since that exchange. It’s racing, there’s the heat of the moment, and it was an intense battle. But I think I handled it well; it was close, but today I expected him to fight more. However, he was kind and let me through.
“He’s someone with a huge amount of experience, and I can learn a lot from him. He’s someone I looked up to as a kid growing up, and I have immense respect for him, no matter what happened yesterday.”
On the other hand, Yuki Tsunoda had a tough race, finishing outside the points due to a miscalculated strategy: “The strategy itself, I did a one-stop, but it wasn’t the right call. Others went with hard tyres and extended their first stint, like Hülkenberg.”
The Japanese driver also admitted his mistake after forcing Alex Albon off the track, which resulted in a penalty: “That error on my part was my fault. It was a tough race. There’s frustration, but I’ll come back stronger.”
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RB F1 Knew Austin Potential, Lawson Secures Key Points RB F1 Knew Austin Potential, Lawson Secures Key Points
