Visibly disappointed but showing signs of growing confidence, Liam Lawson came agonisingly close to reaching Q3 during Saturday’s qualifying session for the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The Racing Bulls driver will start from 12th on the grid after narrowly missing the cut for the final qualifying segment.
Growing comfort on a demanding circuit
The fast and flowing Jeddah Corniche Circuit is known as one of Formula 1’s most challenging venues, demanding complete commitment from drivers as they navigate walls at high speed. For Lawson, each session has represented a step forward in comfort and confidence.
“Every day it’s getting more comfortable. I think this track forces it out of you a little bit just because of how fast and high commitment it is,” Lawson explained after qualifying. “So, yeah, I feel comfortable. It’s just, it’s a shame to be so close to Q3.”
That comfort has translated into improved performance throughout the weekend, with the team making steady progress with the car setup. “Honestly, we’ve improved the car. We’ve improved the session. And the guys have been working really hard on it. It’s a shame to do all that work and just miss out,” he said.
Tiny margins in a competitive midfield
Lawson’s frustration was palpable as he reflected on how close the midfield battle has become in Formula 1, where the smallest margins can make significant differences in the final F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix qualifying order.
“It’s a shame to be close to Q3. And it’s also, you know, I think we’ve gone from… It’s so close to midfield, like tiny margins make a difference,” Lawson noted. “I think we did all the right things this weekend with the car, putting it in a good window. So, yeah, it’s a shame because it’s still just not quite enough.”
When asked where he might have found those precious few hundredths of a second, Lawson identified the first sector as an area for improvement. “It’s probably a little bit through sector one. And that’s what we’ll be chasing tomorrow and going forward.”
Lawson on the limit
Despite not making it into Q3, Lawson spoke about the thrill of driving on a circuit where commitment is everything. Earlier in the session, McLaren’s Lando Norris demonstrated the fine margins at play when he crashed during Q3, highlighting the risks drivers take in pursuit of lap time.
“This is a fun track. We’re putting it up against the wall,” Lawson said with a hint of enthusiasm that betrayed his enjoyment of the challenge. “And honestly, I think, commitment-wise, there’s a bit of stuff I’ve done this weekend, by far. And I feel like we put it together.”
When questioned about his expectations for Sunday’s race, Lawson remained cautious but optimistic. “Honestly, it’s really hard to say. Also, long-run-wise, we didn’t really do too much of it. This weekend has been very, I guess, quality-focused. That’s just the way the sessions went. And so it’s going to be hard to tell.”
Though starting outside the top ten, Lawson believes overtaking opportunities exist at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit if the pace advantage is there. “We’ll obviously try and do the best we can to move forward. I think if you have a pace advantage, it’s a good overtaking here. It’s just whether we’re going to have that pace advantage or not.”
Learning from a world champion
As a product of the Red Bull driver programme, Lawson has had the opportunity to observe three-time world champion Max Verstappen closely. When asked about Verstappen‘s pole position – secured by just one-hundredth of a second over Oscar Piastri – Lawson offered insight into what makes the Dutchman so formidable in qualifying.
“Obviously, he’s very comfortable in a car that he’s driven for a long time. Like I said, this type of circuit where getting up against the walls, finding little bits of margins,” Lawson reflected. “Do you remember a couple of years ago when he was on a warm lap and then crashed? That’s what having that comfort in the car can do. And I think he’s probably got that more than most people.”
