Grip woes derail Lawson’s Qualifying expectations at Silverstone

Liam Lawson’s hopes of building on Racing Bulls’ promising pace came undone in a frustrating Q1 exit at Silverstone, leaving the Kiwi to face a difficult climb from P15 in what he admits will be a “tough race”.

Believing that a Q3 appearance was on the cards, the #30’s qualifying campaign at Silverstone didn’t go to plan when he was forced into an early exit, citing a lack of grip for his inability to escape the clutches of the bottom five in Q1.

“It’s more frustrating because we’ve had a fast car all weekend,” Lawson said.

“And the temperatures dropped, and I guess, I don’t know, we couldn’t get on top of tyres.

“I just had no grip starting the lap, and it didn’t really come through the lap either.

“So, it’s a shame to throw away a… not a weekend, but a session, you know, qualifying where we’ve been fast all weekend.”

Giving himself limited running to start the 18-minute stage, the Racing Bulls driver was one of the last to record his first attempt.

Touring the 5.89km lap, Lawson only managed to set a time of 1:26.606s, placing him in a far-from-secure P12 as the minutes ticked by. 

By the time a Red Flag for a stricken Alpine struck the track, forcing the field back to return to their garages with seven minutes on the clock, the 23-year-old had slipped even further down the order into P14.

Amplified weather conditions made his task of improving from the elimination zone all the more difficult when he emerged from the pitlane, setting off on a final run that was impacted by a lack of grip.

Having dipped a wheel into the gravel on entry to Turn 15, Lawson struggled to save his VCARB 02 from sliding over the kerbs on the exit of Stowe, costing him critical time as he crossed the line. 

“Yeah, I mean, I think it’s more just the temperature that, for whatever reason, we just struggled to put the tyre in a good place for the lap, because we haven’t really had that issue this weekend,” the #30 said. 

“So, it’s something new that’s been in Quali, and I think it’s just more to do with these temperatures.”

With a fastest time of 1:26.044s, a place in Q2 was just one-tenth out of reach for the #30, with Lawson knocked out in the opening stage of Qualifying with the sixth-fastest time of the day. 

The Kiwi will, however, start the British Grand Prix from P15 on the grid, inheriting one position as Ollie Bearman serves a ten-place grid penalty for a Red Flag infringement during FP3, to line up on Row 8 alongside Gabriel Bortoleto.

We’ll try, but it’s going to be a tough race,” Lawson concluded.

As for Lawson’s Racing Bulls teammate, Isack Hadjar advanced to Q2 as the ninth fastest driver, before settling into a final qualifying position of P12 for Sunday’s main event. 

Wet weather could play a role in guiding the #30 through the field as he hopes to achieve an optimistic points finish in Silverstone, with lights out for the 52-lap race taking place at 00:00 AEST tonight.

Image: Simon Galloway/LAT Images // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.

2025 British Grand Prix Schedule:

Friday, July 04:

FP1: 21:30 – 22:30

Saturday, July 05:

FP2: 01:00 – 02:00

FP3: 20:30 – 21:30

Sunday, July 06:

Qualifying: 00:00 – 01:00

Monday, July 07:

Race: 00:00

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