Lawson to start from rear of grid after F1 disqualification
New Zealand driver Liam Lawson was ruled out of qualifying results due to a power unit breach, forcing him to start the Mexican Grand Prix from the back of the field.
By Stephen Collins ·
Liam Lawson will start the Mexican Grand Prix from the final position on the grid after stewards disqualified him from qualifying results. The New Zealand driver for Racing Bulls had originally set the eighth fastest time, but technical officials reversed that placement following a hearing into his car's power unit compliance.
The disqualification stems from a violation of the minimum MGU-K power requirement. FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer flagged the issue immediately after qualifying ended. Bauer stated that the Racing Bulls car was in breach of regulations and referred the matter to the stewards for decision.
The stewards reviewed evidence accepted by all parties, which showed Lawson did not lift off the power immediately after the control line at the end of his fastest lap in Q2. This action meant the required rate of reduction for MGU-K deployment, known as the 'step down,' was not achieved. The team argued the error provided no performance advantage, but the stewards ruled that technical non-compliance stands regardless of the impact on speed.
Lawson participated in the hearing where the decision was finalized. The stewards noted that the team had self-disclosed the breach, but pointed to precedents requiring disqualification when a car does not comply with technical regulations at all times during an event. This ruling pushes Lawson to the back of the grid for tomorrow's race.
The penalty follows a separate incident on Saturday when Lawson clashed with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen. That collision had already cost Lawson a grid slot, dropping him from eighth to ninth place before the technical disqualification further moved him to the rear. His teammate Arvin Lindblad will start from eighth place.
Lewis Hamilton secured pole position, marking his 105th career pole but the first in over three years. George Russell finished just 0.009 seconds behind Hamilton. Charles Leclerc qualified third, while Verstappen started fourth before his own penalty moved him down to fifth. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who qualified fifth, moves up to fourth on the grid due to Verstappen's penalty.
Antonelli holds a mathematical path to becoming Formula 1's youngest champion. If he finishes the race in ninth place or better, he will clinch the title. The grand prix is scheduled to start at 9am tomorrow.
Source: The Star
