Liam Lawson's Rocky Start with Racing Bulls

Liam Lawson is feeling the heat as he continues to struggle in the Formula 1 circuit. After yet another disheartening exit in Q1, Helmut Marko acknowledged that the New Zealander is "slowly" getting up to speed, but his patience is wearing thin.

A Turbulent Return to Racing Bulls

Lawson’s debut season has been far from smooth. Following two disappointing races with Red Bull, he was sent back to Racing Bulls, prompting the promotion of Yuki Tsunoda. This decision underlines the scrutiny he is under in his pursuit of excellence.

Repeat Patterns: A Q1 Nightmare

Once again, Lawson failed to advance from Q1 in the RB21, a car that has been described as kinder yet slower than its predecessor. He was unable to keep up with his rookie teammate, Isack Hadjar, who qualified within the top ten and scored points in Japan. In contrast, Lawson couldn’t break free from the pack and finished 17th.

Bahrain Misfortunes

In Bahrain, the situation only worsened. Lawson's performance continued to falter as he ended up qualifying in 17th, trailing Hadjar, who managed to secure 12th position. With four Q1 exits already this season, Lawson's future hangs in the balance.

Technical Glitches and Personal Accountability

Racing Bulls' chief technical officer Tim Goss cited a DRS issue as a key factor in Lawson's struggles, explaining how a minor mistake led to a significant loss of speed on the straight. But Marko wasn't convinced, maintaining a careful line when discussing Lawson's prospects.

Frustration and Learning Process

Lawson expressed his frustration, admitting that he was at fault for the DRS closing. "I’ll learn from it definitely, because it’s completely screwed us," he remarked. Despite the setbacks, he remains optimistic about the speed of their car and believes they could have qualified better.

A Tough Road Ahead

With his first points still elusive this season, Lawson recognizes the uphill battle he faces starting at the back: "When you’re buried, it’s not ideal for tyres and everything. It’s going to be quite tough. But we feel we have the speed to move forward." As he gears up for the race, only time will tell if Lawson can turn his fortunes around.