Lawson believes front row was possible after qualifying mistake leaves him third in São Paulo

Liam Lawson will line up third on the grid for the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos after a self-described qualifying mistake cost the Racing Bulls driver what he believes could have been a front-row start. The New Zealander set the fifth-fastest time in a wet Q3 session but moves up two places following grid penalties for George Russell and Charles Leclerc.

Lawson was among the quickest drivers in the early stages of Q3, going out on track shortly after Fernando Alonso as rain threatened to worsen later in the session. The problem came when he closed too quickly on the Aston Martin on his out-lap, forcing him to abort his second flying lap and leave him reliant on a single timed effort.

“I think as a driver you want to maximise it and I feel like we didn’t quite today,” Lawson told media after qualifying. “I went out there and then I caught Fernando too much on the first lap and had to abort the second one. And then I didn’t get to really maximise it.”

His sole completed lap left him 0.226 seconds behind Kimi Antonelli, who qualified third. With Russell — who had set the second-fastest time — already carrying an engine penalty, beating Antonelli would have been enough to secure a front-row berth for Lawson. Asked directly whether he thought the front row had been within reach, he was candid: “I mean, as a driver, I’m going to say yes, but obviously you never know. And obviously the rain was coming down. So by the time I got to the end of the lap… You never know.”

Despite the frustration, Lawson acknowledged the grid position still represents a strong opportunity. “It’s still a good place to start,” he said. “Obviously, I always take the free positions, but you always want to maximise as a driver as well. I think either way it’s going to be a tough race here. I think unlikely it’s going to be fully dry. But I think we have a quick car in all conditions.”

The result continues a strong run of form for the 22-year-old, who has regularly advanced into Q3 this season and consistently challenged drivers from the sport’s leading teams. Lawson currently has no confirmed contract with Racing Bulls beyond the current campaign.