Liam Lawson Secures Impressive Third on Grid for Azerbaijan GP

New Zealand’s Liam Lawson achieved a significant milestone in his Formula One career by qualifying third for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on March 31, 2024. This remarkable performance comes amid a challenging qualifying session that saw six red flags due to crashes and changing weather conditions at the Baku circuit. Lawson’s strategic approach during these difficulties allowed him to secure a prime starting position behind Max Verstappen of Red Bull and Carlos Sainz of Williams.

The 23-year-old driver displayed poise and skill throughout the weekend, consistently placing in the top 10 during practice sessions. In qualifying, he capitalized on optimal track conditions after the final red flag, utilizing soft tyres to set his best time. Lawson’s qualifying lap was clocked at 1 minute 41.676 seconds, positioning him just over half a second behind Verstappen, who recorded the fastest lap of the session.

Reflecting on his achievement, Lawson remained grounded, emphasizing the importance of the race itself. “Obviously, tomorrow [Sunday] is the important day,” he told Sky Sports UK. “It’s going to be a very hard race, for sure. We have a great starting position, but we’re aware of who we’re fighting around us.” He expressed gratitude towards his team, stating, “The car’s been good all weekend. When it needed to be in quali, it was good.”

Lawson aims to make history by becoming the first New Zealander to stand on a Formula One podium in over 51 years. The last to achieve this was Denny Hulme, who won the opening round of the 1974 championship in Argentina. This historic context adds an extra layer of excitement for Lawson and his supporters.

Qualifying Chaos and Championship Implications

The qualifying session was marked by chaos, with notable incidents impacting several top contenders. Championship leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari both crashed, complicating their strategies. Despite his previous success in Baku, Piastri qualified ninth without setting a time in the final phase. He acknowledged the challenges ahead, saying, “I think the win is ambitious but let’s wait and see. The car has been quick this weekend and hopefully we can use that to make progress.”

Teammate Lando Norris, who is 31 points behind in the championship standings, will start seventh after narrowly avoiding a wall during his qualifying lap. Norris expressed the difficulty of the session, stating, “In the final lap, you just have to send it.”

Leclerc, aiming for a fifth consecutive pole position, will begin the race from tenth after crashing into the barriers. The session’s tumultuous nature saw only three drivers, including Lawson and Sainz, setting competitive times during the final phase after the track had become slippery from rain.

The session’s instability affected many teams. Mercedes driver George Russell qualified fifth, while Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull secured sixth. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton faced disappointment, qualifying twelfth after initially showing promise on Friday.

The qualifying process itself was fraught with interruptions. The first phase was halted multiple times due to accidents, including one involving Alex Albon and another by Nico Hülkenberg, both of whom crashed their cars. The session concluded with Franco Colapinto crashing his Alpine, further delaying the proceedings.

As teams prepare for the race, all eyes will be on Lawson to see if he can leverage his strong qualifying position into a podium finish, potentially rewriting New Zealand’s motorsport history.