Liam Lawson’s Heartbreak: Racing Bulls’ Conservative Strategy Costs Him in Abu Dhabi Qualifying!
In a stunning twist of fate at the Yas Marina Circuit, Liam Lawson has voiced his deep disappointment over Racing Bulls’ overly cautious strategy during qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. With the competition tighter than ever, Lawson’s team made a critical error that left him on the outside looking in at Q3—a mistake that he claims has “hurt” their chances in this crucial race weekend.
The qualifying session was nothing short of a nail-biter, with a mere 0.076 seconds separating the bottom eight drivers. Oscar Piastri secured the eighth spot in his McLaren while Lawson found himself languishing in 13th, just 0.043 seconds shy of advancing. The culprit? Racing Bulls’ decision to utilize three sets of soft tires in Q1, forcing Lawson to run on a used set during his pivotal second run in Q2.
Expressing his frustration with the media, Lawson stated, “Ultimately, it was really down to playing it a bit conservative. We took three sets in Q1, and we didn’t really need to, I don’t think. It’s hurt us in the end because we missed Q3 by a very small margin.”
This tactical misstep is particularly bitter given the high stakes of the weekend. Racing Bulls are currently positioned sixth in the constructors’ standings, holding a slender 12-point lead over Aston Martin and a 19-point cushion over Haas. The pressure of these standings may have weighed heavily on the team’s strategy, as Lawson noted, “It’s extremely close. It’s very easy to fall the wrong side of it, and obviously it’s a very important weekend for the constructors’, and that probably played into our minds a little bit too much in our planning.”
With his teammate Isack Hadjar qualifying ninth and poised to score points, Lawson remains hopeful. “We have one car in the points, and I’m reasonably close to it [the top 10], so we’re going to have to try [for points],” he said. “Our goal is to beat Aston and Haas in the constructors’, so it’s going to be very much trying to make sure we’re on top of them.”
As the season reaches its climax, Lawson reflects on a missed opportunity, but he is determined to make the most of the race ahead. “Hopefully we can overtake. It should be a track on which you can overtake. But with how close the margins are, honestly, I expect everyone to be very similar on pace.”
The drama is palpable as the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix looms. Will Lawson and Racing Bulls rise to the occasion, or will this conservative approach haunt them as they battle for crucial points in the constructors’ championship? One thing is for sure: the racing world is watching, and every second counts!







