The Formula 1 race weekend at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace Interlagos delivered dramatic weather conditions that completely shook up the starting grid. Amidst a heavily soaking wet tarmac that neutralized the field, Liam Lawson put in a stellar shift to secure a spot on the second row for the upcoming grand prix. Having posted the fifth-fastest lap time during a chaotic Q3 session, subsequent grid drops for Charles Leclerc and George Russell elevated the Kiwi driver to a sensational third-place start for Sunday's main race.
The qualifying shootout unfolding under torrential downpours offered mid-field outfits a golden window of opportunity. Driving for the Faenza-based Racing Bulls squad, Lawson quickly made headlines when his initial flying lap briefly provisionally handed him pole position. However, track conditions deteriorated rapidly as the rain intensified during the dying minutes of the session, making any further improvements virtually impossible as standing water accumulated across the circuit.
Despite locking in a magnificent starting position that boosts his prospects for solid points, the young charger confessed that he felt slightly frustrated for not extracting the ultimate pace from his challenger. His second flying attempt in the top-10 shootout was effectively compromised and aborted after catching traffic behind Fernando Alonso, leaving no room for recovery as the weather closed the window for a final push.
"Obviously, we're in a good place for tomorrow, but we didn't quite maximize it," Lawson explained to reporters in the paddock. "We had really good speed today, and I tried to make a gap before the last lap. I caught Fernando on the first one, then I aborted, and then it rained. So, I didn't really get to do that final lap. But obviously, we get lucky tomorrow with a couple of places."
Looking ahead to the Grand Prix lights-out, Lawson remains upbeat about his competitive pace whether the race unfolds on a dry asphalt or under wet conditions. Sitting ninth in the 2026 drivers' standings with 83 points to his name, he believes the team possesses a fast package. Nevertheless, his long-term future within the Racing Bulls setup remains undecided as management weighs up their roster options for upcoming campaigns.
Addressing the ongoing speculation regarding his seat amidst rising junior talents, the New Zealander emphasized his desire to simply relish every moment behind the wheel. "I mean, yeah, but it's been like this for months now," Lawson told F1TV. "So, at this point, honestly, every time I get in the car, I'm just trying to enjoy it. And today I did. You know, there's a lot of horsepower in these cars, not much grip today. So, you're really, like, there are places where it's probably five seconds before you get to full throttle and it's different for us. So, yeah, at the moment, being in the car is the most enjoyable part, I'd say."
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