Lawson takes 11th as Racing Bulls miss Q3 in Sepang
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 3, 2026
Lawson pace
Liam Lawson gave Racing Bulls a steady opening Friday at Sepang, where he finished eighth in first practice and ninth in second practice after completing 52 laps across the two sessions. The pace came with a clear warning from the driver, who said the circuit was “fun to drive” but also said the extreme heat and heavy tire degradation would make the weekend physically demanding. Lawson pointed to tire management as a key factor in both qualifying and the race. Racing Bulls came away with encouraging pace from both cars, and team principal Alan Permane said the team made setup progress between sessions. The Friday running gave the team a useful baseline ahead of qualifying.
Qualifying struggle
Lawson’s Friday promise did not carry cleanly into qualifying, where he took 11th and was set to start 11th. The result left him just outside Q3 and extended a run of near misses, with Lawson missing the final segment for the fourth time in the last six races. He said the car struggled more on its tires in qualifying, a problem that undercut the pace Racing Bulls had shown earlier in the day. The session exposed the gap between practice and the run that sets the grid, leaving Racing Bulls trying to understand why the car lost competitiveness when the laps counted most. Lawson said he hoped the team could be stronger in the race, with tire management and strategy expected to create overtaking chances.
Lindblad help
Arvid Lindblad added another layer to Racing Bulls’ day. Lindblad reached Q2, gave Lawson a tow and qualified 16th. His starting position was already set from the back after he took a fifth internal combustion engine along with another turbocharger and exhaust set. Even with that handicap, his Friday pace showed the car could run competitively, with Lindblad eighth in first practice and 11th in second practice. The tow provided Lawson with assistance on the way to 11th and underlined how closely the team was working across both garages. Racing Bulls now has its qualifying positions set and will look to convert its practice pace and setup work into a stronger race showing.
