Retour
Liam Lawson qualified eighth for Sunday’s Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix.
But he will not line up in that spot on the grid ahead of the race.
Lawson was cited for a failure to comply with the requirements of the F1 Regulations, specifically Articles C5.12.6 and C5.12.7 of the sport’s technical regulations, which govern the energy deployment and power of the cars, and a required reduction of the MGU-K deployment.
Here are the relevant sections of the F1 Technical Regulations:
According to the report from the stewards, following qualifying a representative from Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, Lawson, the F1 single-seater Sporting Director, and members of the FIA Technical team including the FIA Technical Delegate, met with race officials.
At the hearing, evidence was submitted showing that following the control line at the end of Lawson’s fastest lap in Q2, he did not lift off the power immediately. That resulted in the “rate of reduction of MGU-K deployment required to achieve the regulated ‘step down’ not being achieved.”
VCARB argued that Lawson did not receive any performance advantage by not lifting off the throttle at the end of the lap, however, the Technical Regulations do not excuse non-compliance if no performance advantage is gained.
In addition, the stewards noted that “these regulations require that a car must comply with them at all times during an event.”
The stewards noted that while VCARB self-disclosed the breach, but precedents require the imposition of disqualification, even with mitigating factors present.
You can read the full decision here:
Lawson will now have to submit a request to the stewards to start the race, which will be granted under the sport’s “107% rule.” Under the F1 Sporting Regulations, since Lawson has set a satisfactory time within 107% of the fastest time during Q1 earlier in the week during practice, he will be permitted to start the race, from the back of the starting grid.