Baku GP – Lawson third in qualifying: “Honestly, I don’t even remember what happened”
Liam Lawson secured a spot on the second row for the Baku Grand Prix during a chaotic qualifying session, delivering one of the standout performances of Q3. Max Verstappen took pole position ahead of Carlos Sainz and Lawson.
Q3 proved difficult for several teams. McLaren struggled with Oscar Piastri crashing and Lando Norris off pace, while Ferrari faced similar troubles with their remaining driver crashing. Mercedes also failed to improve, leaving Lawson to secure a remarkable third place.
Impressive laps for Liam Lawson
Lawson’s strong laps allowed him to claim a place on the second row alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Despite admitting he is unsure exactly what unfolded during the session, the New Zealander is pleased with the result and aims to have a strong race on Sunday.
Liam Lawson’s comments
“Honestly, I don’t even remember what happened. It was so hectic. It was still raining… I knew it would be challenging, but I didn’t expect it to be this intense,” Lawson said. “The car, however, has performed well all weekend, and when it needed to, it was strong in qualifying. A huge thank you to all the guys and girls in the team—they’ve been fantastic. The weekend has gone well so far, but obviously the important day is tomorrow.”
When asked how he reacted to the rain arriving during qualifying, Liam Lawson explained his approach: “It’s always tricky because you see the rain hitting your visor and feel it, and you notice the track getting slicker. But with the tires this warm, there’s still grip, so you try to keep your brain switched on and continue pushing without lifting off. It’s definitely challenging though.”
Looking ahead to the race
Regarding his expectations for the Baku GP, Lawson admitted: “It’s going to be a very tough race. We have a great starting position, but we know we’ll only be able to compete with some of the cars around us. We need to focus on that,” he concluded.
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