Liam Lawson Secures P3 in Chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix Qualifying

Baku, Azerbaijan — Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson achieved the best qualifying result of his Formula 1 career, securing a third-place start for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on September 21, 2025. Lawson took advantage of a chaotic qualifying session to earn his spot on the front row behind Red Bull‘s Max Verstappen and Williams‘ Carlos Sainz.

After a series of red flags disrupted the session, including four in the earlier rounds, Lawson was among the first out in Q3. He clocked an impressive lap time before rain began to affect track conditions, making it increasingly difficult for other drivers to improve their times. This culminated in a late crash by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, ending his hopes for a solid qualifying time.

“Honestly, I can’t even remember what happened; it was so busy,” Lawson said after the session. “The car has been good all weekend, and when it needed to be in Quali, it was good. A massive thanks to the team for their support.”

Throughout Q3, Lawson navigated the slick track, noting the tricky conditions. “It’s always sketchy because you see the rain coming on your visor,” he explained. “But with warm tires, you still have grip, so you have to keep pushing.”

Joining him in the top three is Sainz, who expressed satisfaction with his performance despite the chaotic conditions. “We nailed the qualifying today. I’ve been putting good laps together,” Sainz stated. “Hopefully, I can secure a podium tomorrow.”

Verstappen, who claimed pole position, acknowledged the challenges posed by the multiple interruptions during the session. “It was a very difficult qualifying session with all the red flags,” he said, emphasizing the importance of staying calm under pressure.

As Lawson prepares for the race, he admits the competition will be tough. “It’s going to be a very hard race. We have a great starting position, but we’re aware of who we’re fighting around us,” he said. “That’s what we’ll be focused on.”

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is set to begin on Sunday, promising a challenging race for all drivers.