The chaotic qualifying session for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix at the Interlagos circuit left Liam Lawson with mixed emotions despite equalling his career-best Formula 1 starting grid position. The talented New Zealander initially posted the fifth-fastest time on a treacherous wet track, but subsequent grid penalties applied to rivals ahead promoted him directly to the third spot.
However, the young charger took full responsibility for a critical error during the dying moments of Q3 that he believes cost him an even greater result. While an astute strategic choice to switch to intermediate tyres paid off handsomely in the earlier segment, his momentum evaporated when he closed in too rapidly behind veteran world champion Fernando Alonso.
"I think we had a good chance, and we had a very strong car, so we were very good at the call to go to inters in Q2," Lawson explained to the media in the paddock.
"That is probably what put us up there initially, but in Q3, I think we had a good chance at fighting the front guys, but I just did not make a big enough gap. It is my fault. These cars have a lot of horsepower and not much grip, so you are sliding around, and it is a shame as I caught Fernando too much on the first lap."
That misjudgment forced him to abort his final flying lap—which ultimately shaped up to be the optimal window before heavy rain returned to soak the asphalt. Although he inherits a fantastic starting slot thanks to the penalties, Lawson remains steadfast in his drive to maximize every single weekend on track.
Looking ahead to the main Grand Prix event at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, the rising star warned that persistent wet conditions could turn the race into a chaotic affair featuring multiple red flags if visibility and standing water compromise driver safety.
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