Liam Lawson achieved his career-best qualifying position at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, overcoming unpredictable weather and multiple interruptions at the Baku street circuit. After a difficult qualifying session at the Italian Grand Prix, his Racing Bulls team adopted a cautious approach that paid off during the chaotic Azerbaijan qualifying.
How a strategic shift led to Lawson’s strong qualifying in Baku
Liam Lawson’s recent qualifying performances contrast sharply, moving from his worst-ever result in Monza to his best in Baku. The difference came from his team’s decision to prioritize safety and consistency amid a turbulent session. At the Italian Grand Prix, Lawson faced setbacks when he lost his flying lap due to a track limits violation at the first Lesmo corner, leaving him with no fuel to attempt another timed lap and a disheartening 20th starting position.
Looking back on that incident, Lawson called it “soul-destroying,” highlighting the frustration that carried over into the race. Nonetheless, with the Azerbaijan GP, he returned revitalized and secured third on the grid, marking his personal best qualifying effort.
Qualifying turmoil redefines expectations at Baku
The Azerbaijan qualifying session was filled with chaos, lasting almost twice as long as usual because of six red flag stoppages. Factors such as gusty wind, light rain, cool temperature, and diverse tyre strategies made the narrow Baku circuit especially difficult to master. Numerous drivers made errors, either due to the challenging conditions or because of incidents involving others on the track.
Lawson acknowledged the session’s difficulty, stating,
“It was a good session. It’s been a good weekend so far; it’s been very tricky, though.”
He added,
“I think that quali was one of the toughest ones we’ve probably experienced — trying to keep putting out laps, especially when the rain’s coming down. And the amount of red flags that there were as well, it was definitely a challenge.”
Despite these issues, Lawson praised the car’s performance throughout the weekend, emphasizing consistent fine-tuning.
“But when a session’s like that, honestly, it’s more down to just putting a lap together and making sure that you have good track position and don’t get caught out by these red flags,”
he said, highlighting the importance of timing during qualifying interruptions.
Making every lap count during interrupted qualifying
The Q3 segment was particularly fragmented by two red flags, but Lawson managed to set a flying lap between these pauses. That lap kept him second in the standings for a considerable time before he settled into third position by the session’s close. This smooth recovery was a stark contrast to the difficulties he faced in Monza, credited mostly to a deliberate change in strategy from his team.
Lawson explained,
“I think we fuelled for the session, did the whole session, and just kept driving around!”
He went on,
“We made a mistake in Monza and took a bit of a risk, but we knew the car was fast. But just with how close it is this year you can still be fast and have something happen and get knocked out.”
Adapting to the unstable conditions at Baku, the team emphasized a safer, more methodical approach.
“So today, with everything that was going on and the conditions, we played it a bit safer and we maximised laps on track.”
According to Lawson, they completed around
“three or four laps but spent the entire qualifying — when it was green — pretty much on the track. So obviously for today, it worked for us.”
Managing the challenges of a constantly shifting track
When discussing the mindset required for such a complex session, Lawson said,
“You have to push the limits, and sometimes if you push a little bit harder, you can get rewarded. But obviously it’s very easy to crash here as well.”
He further explained the difficulties of adapting to changing conditions:
“So through quali, you’re managing it, trying to drive good laps, keep everything together and learn as much as you can with the wind and everything.”
Lawson described the experience as confusing due to rapid changes:
“But at the same time, with how much it’s changing, you start a new lap and it’s completely new, the feeling of the car, different corners — and it can be really confusing. Especially over such a long lap, it’s very challenging for us.”
This highlights the demanding nature of the Baku circuit and the constant adjustment required from drivers.
Looking ahead to race day with cautious optimism
Although Lawson’s strong qualifying position offers promise, he recognizes the challenges that lie in wait for the race.
“Obviously, we’d love to stay where we are, but we’re aware of the guys that we’re racing as well, and we know that there’s some quicker guys behind us,”
he remarked.
Focusing on a strong start will be key, according to Lawson:
“We’ll try and obviously have a good start, that’s the first thing. I think our long-run pace was okay, but honestly, when the conditions are as windy as they were today, it changes everything. So, yeah, let’s see tomorrow.”
The Baku circuit is known for its opportunities to overtake, meaning Lawson will need to stay alert to hold or improve his position. The unpredictable nature of qualifying demonstrated that anything is possible during the Azerbaijan GP weekend.
