Lawson remains optimistic after failed Japanese Grand Prix gamble

Liam Lawson has spoken of his team’s failed gamble in yesterday’s Japanese Grand Prix during which he began 13th on the grid and finished 17th.

Lawson, in his first race this season for the Racing Bulls team after being dropped by Red Bull only two races in, was passed almost immediately by rival Yuki Tsunoda – his replacement at Red Bull – and was unable to make up ground from there.

The Kiwi said his team’s pit stop strategy didn’t work on a Suzuka track on which passing was difficult.

"We went really long and I guess tried something and it didn't really work," Lawson said after the race.

"It was a tough start anyway - lap one was pretty tricky.

"I think we will obviously learn from that."

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive Japanese Grand Prix after leading from pole position. It was reigning world champion Verstappen’s first win of the year.

McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were second and third, while Tsunoda was 12th.

Lawson, who struggled in Melbourne and China - the first two races of the season – and failed to make an impression at Suzuka beyond qualifying faster than Tsunoda, remained optimistic.

"There's been positives to take from this weekend,” he said. “In general, the car has been pretty good, obviously it takes some time to adjust and get used to it.

"It's been a pretty crazy few weeks and months. I just want to get into a groove and get racing. We get to go again next week [in Bahrain] with a new style of track, so we'll keep chipping away."

Racing Bulls head of performance Laurent Mekies said: "Liam was starting further back on the grid, so we tried to extend him to grab any opportunity.

“Unfortunately, nothing happened and he finished in P17 in a train of cars. This result rewards a competitive weekend straight from the outset on Friday and this is boosting all of us ahead of the next race in Bahrain."