Liam Lawson has been disqualified from qualifying for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix after the FIA confirmed a technical infringement involving the MGU-K power delivery of his Racing Bulls car. The New Zealander has lost his qualifying result and will be permitted to start Sunday’s race from the back of the grid.
The decision adds another setback to an already difficult weekend for Liam Lawson, whose ninth-place grid position was placed under threat following a report submitted by FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer. The investigation centred on the operation of the MGU-K in the Red Bull power unit during Q2.
FIA confirms Liam Lawson disqualification from Mexico GP qualifying
At 02:05 CET, the FIA officially confirmed that Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls had been disqualified from qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix. The governing body established that the car had breached the technical requirements governing MGU-K power delivery.
Although his qualifying result has been deleted, Liam Lawson has been granted permission to take part in the race. The Racing Bulls driver will therefore start from the final position on the grid rather than the ninth-place slot he had originally been expected to occupy.
MGU-K irregularity puts Racing Bulls under FIA scrutiny
Liam Lawson’s Mexico City Grand Prix weekend had already been marked by difficulties before the technical infringement emerged. Tensions with Max Verstappen during Friday’s second free practice session had resulted in both drivers receiving a one-place grid penalty, adding to the New Zealander’s problems ahead of the race.
Following qualifying, FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer identified a potential irregularity involving the electrical power delivery of Liam Lawson’s car. The subsequent official report raised serious doubts about whether the Racing Bulls driver would be allowed to retain his qualifying result.
The FIA document specifically identified an infringement involving car number 30 during the second qualifying session, detailing how the MGU-K power requirements had been breached immediately after Liam Lawson completed his fastest lap.
“Car 30, driven by Liam Lawson, breached the MGU-K minimum power requirement immediately after crossing the finish line on his fastest lap in Q2 at 15:47:36,” the official document stated. “This is a breach of Articles C5.12.6 and C5.12.7. The driver’s maximum power demand and the ERS-K direct current (DC) electrical power were reduced at rates greater than those permitted by the Regulations.”
The FIA’s subsequent decision confirmed the technical violation and removed Liam Lawson from the qualifying classification, leaving the Racing Bulls driver facing a start from the rear of the field at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
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