Liam Lawson Joins Alex Albon on Montreal Sprint Qualifying Sidelines

Liam Lawson has been ruled out of Sprint Qualifying for the 2026 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix after his car suffered significant damage following a hydraulic failure during the opening practice session in Montreal. The setback leaves Racing Bulls with limited preparation time during a sprint weekend where every lap is critical.

The New Zealander encountered trouble in the early stages of FP1 when a hydraulic issue caused him to lose power steering. Lawson was forced to stop on track, bringing his session to an immediate end and creating a major repair challenge for the team ahead of Friday's Sprint Qualifying.

The situation was further complicated by the lengthy recovery process required to return the car to the garage. Valuable time was lost before Racing Bulls engineers could begin diagnosing the root cause of the problem. As Sprint Qualifying approached, Lawson's car remained partially dismantled, with neither the power unit nor gearbox attached.

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From a technical perspective, hydraulic failures are among the most disruptive issues in modern Formula 1 machinery. The hydraulic system controls several key functions, including power steering, gear shifts and various actuators that support vehicle operation. As a result, teams often need to conduct extensive inspections before returning a car to the track.

Missing Sprint Qualifying represents a significant disadvantage for Lawson as he continues his campaign in the highly competitive midfield battle. With only one practice session available before competitive running begins, Racing Bulls must now rely heavily on information gathered from team-mate Isack Hadjar to optimise setup direction and tyre understanding around Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Lawson's absence adds to the growing list of setbacks at Montreal. Earlier on Friday, Alex Albon of Williams Racing was also ruled out of Sprint Qualifying after sustaining extensive damage when his car struck a marmot during FP1. Williams subsequently confirmed that both the power unit and gearbox required replacement.

With both Lawson and Albon sidelined, the Sprint Qualifying field is reduced as teams continue to battle reliability and unforeseen incidents at the Canadian Grand Prix. Racing Bulls' immediate priority is to complete repairs and return Lawson to action for the remainder of the Montreal weekend, limiting the long-term impact of the lost track time on its overall performance.