Lawson’s season-high P12 in qualifying boosts Kiwi’s hopes
Liam Lawson delivered a standout performance in qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, securing his best grid... The post Lawson’s season-high P12 in qualifying boosts Kiwi’s hopes appeared first on F1i.com.
Liam Lawson delivered a standout performance in qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, securing his best grid position of the 2025 Formula 1 season with a 12th-place finish at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
The Racing Bulls driver edged out his highly-rated teammate Isack Hadjar, who will start 14th, marking the first time this season Lawson has outqualified the rookie sensation.
Despite narrowly missing Q3, Lawson’s lap time of 1m 28.191s in Q2 placed him just behind Williams’ Alex Albon, signaling a step forward for the New Zealander on a track that demands precision and bravery.
The Jeddah circuit, with its high-speed corners and minimal runoff areas, tested the field’s commitment, and Lawson rose to the occasion.
His performance was particularly notable given his challenging start to his first full campaign in F1 and his early demotion from Red Bull.
Outpacing Hadjar, an undisputable revelation in the field this season, Lawson showcased his growing confidence in the VCARB 02, even as he acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly in the tricky first sector where McLaren’s Lando Norris crashed during Q3.
With overtaking opportunities available in Jeddah, the 23-year-old heads into race day with cautious optimism.
Pushing the Limits in Qualifying
Despite his solid performance Lawson expressed mixed feelings about his result, frustrated by how close he came to reaching Q3.
“It's a shame to be so close to Q3, you know?” he told the media post-qualifying. “It's so close in the midfield, like tiny margins make a difference.”
©RB
However, he took pride in his effort, particularly his commitment on a track that punishes hesitation.
“This is the type of track where putting it up against the wall can make all the difference,” he said. “And honestly, I think commitment-wise, it's the best stuff I've done all weekend by far.”
Lawson also spoke about his growing comfort with RB’s car, a process accelerated by the circuit’s demands.
“Every day it's getting more comfortable,” he explained. “I think this track forces it out of you a little bit, just because of how fast and how high commitment it is. So yeah, I feel comfortable.”
Despite this progress, he identified sector one as a weak point for the Racing Bulls package, especially after witnessing Norris’ crash.
“Unfortunately, our weak part of the track is probably a little bit through sector one,” he admitted. “That's what we'll be chasing tomorrow and going forward.”
Race Day Uncertainties
Looking ahead to the race, Lawson was realistic about the unknowns, particularly given the team’s limited long-run data.
“It's hard, honestly. It's really hard to say,” he said when asked about his expectations for race day.
©RB
“Long run-wise, we didn't really do too much of it. This weekend has been very, I guess, probably focused – it's just the way the sessions went.”
“I think if you have a pace advantage, there's good overtaking here,” he noted. “It's just whether we're gonna have that pace advantage or not.”
Lawson’s season-best performance could be the springboard he needs to make further strides in this year’s fiercely competitive F1 season.
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
The post Lawson’s season-high P12 in qualifying boosts Kiwi’s hopes appeared first on F1i.com.
