Formula 1: Front wing damage costs Lawson in Japanese Grand Prix qualifying, Kiwi to start 14th at Suzuka
Liam Lawson will start Formula One’s Japanese Grand Prix in 14th, after the Kiwi was eliminated in the second session at Suzuka.
While Lawson did perform professionally to advance from the opening stage of qualifying (Q1), he was 0.386s shy of advancing into the top 10 and could only watch as that spot was taken by his rookie British teammate, Arvid Lindblad, who will start 10th.
The Kiwi suffered damage to his front wing in qualifying, race engineer Alexander Iliopoulos was heard telling Lawson after his elimination, but had no explanation as to where it had come from.
That resulted in a late wing change for Lawson, which in turn affected his Racing Bulls car’s balance.
“It’s pretty frustrating,” Lawson said. “We had a strong car this weekend, we had potential to find even more in quali.
“We had an issue with the front wing in Q2. It’s a shame for sure, we’ll try to move forward tomorrow.
“It’s hard to overtake, we have speed to move forward, but it’s not that straightforward.”
Mercedes’ 2026 dominance continues, with a third straight front-row lockout. For the second race in a row, Italian Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position with the fastest time of the day – 1m 28.778s.
Brit George Russell was 0.298s back in second, while McLaren’s Aussie Oscar Piastri was third, 0.354s behind Antonelli.
Ferrari’s Monégasque driver Charles Leclerc was the fastest non-Mercedes powered car, 0.627s back, while world champion Lando Norris starts fifth, the Brit 0.631s back.
Four-time Dutch world champion Max Verstappen joined Lawson in being eliminated in Q2, as Lindblad sealed the final place in the top 10.
Starting 14th sees Lawson replicate his qualifying performance from the same race in 2025, where he would cross the line 17th after gambling on pit strategy.
The Racing Bulls driver faces a difficult race in Japan, with Suzuka a notoriously difficult track to overtake on.
Last year’s race saw just 15 overtakes after the opening lap, however there are hopes for a more competitive race this year, thanks to Formula One’s new regulations.
If there’s any consolation, Lawson started outside the top 10 in both China’s sprint and grand prix, and finished seventh in both.
As the first car on track in Q1, Lawson’s first effort of 1m 31.785s had him slower than Lindblad, and needing improvement to advance into Q2.
That improvement came before the end of the first session, as Lawson bettered his time to 1m 30.657s to get through as the 11th-best in the first session, with 0.431s to spare, and ahead of both Lindblad and Red Bull’s Frenchman Isack Hadjar.
Into Q2, Lawson’s first lap time, 1m 31.004s, was slower than he managed in Q1 and saw him down the leaderboard and 0.641s outside a place in the top 10.
And while he was able to improve to 1m 30.495s, it wasn’t enough for Lawson to join his teammate in the top 10.
The Japanese Grand Prix begins at 6pm Sunday (NZT).
Starting grid
1. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
2. George Russell – Mercedes
3. Oscar Piastri – McLaren
4. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
5. Lando Norris – McLaren
6. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari
7. Pierre Gasly – Alpine
8. Isack Hadjar – Red Bull
9. Gabriel Bortoleto – Audi
10. Arvid Lindblad – Racing Bulls
11. Max Verstappen – Red Bull
12. Esteban Ocon – Haas
13. Nico Hulkenberg – Audi
14. Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls
15. Franco Colapinto – Alpine
16. Carlos Sainz – Williams
17. Alex Albon – Williams
18. Ollie Bearman – Haas
19. Sergio Perez – Cadillac
20. Valtteri Bottas – Cadillac
21. Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
22. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.
That's all folks
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That'll be all from us live tonight. Stay tuned for the full wrap shortly, and be sure to come back at 6pm tomorrow for the grand prix!
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Antonelli's time was 1m 28.778s, 0.298s quicker than Russell, and 0.627s ahead of Leclerc as the fastest non-Mercedes powered car.
Starting grid
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1. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
2. George Russell – Mercedes
3. Oscar Piastri – McLaren
4. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
5. Lando Norris – McLaren
6. Sir Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari
7. Pierre Gasly – Alpine
8. Isack Hadjar – Red Bull
9. Gabriel Bortoleto – Audi
10. Arvid Lindblad – Racing Bulls
11. Max Verstappen – Red Bull
12. Esteban Ocon – Haas
13. Nico Hulkenberg – Audi
14. Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls
15. Franco Colapinto – Alpine
16. Carlos Sainz – Williams
17. Alex Albon – Williams
18. Ollie Bearman – Haas
19. Sergio Perez – Cadillac
20. Valtteri Bottas – Cadillac
21. Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
22. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
Antonelli takes pole!
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Back-to-back poles for the 19-year-old!
We'll have the final starting order for you shortly.
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Mistake from Leclerc! He loses 0.3s with a snap of understeer!
He crosses the line fourth!
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Neither of the McLaren cars can get past Antonelli.
Leclerc sets a fastest first sector - can he steal pole?
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Drivers aren't improving here. Will Russell do enough? He doesn't!
Antonelli keeps hold of pole.
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Antonelli makes a mistake at the hairpin, could that cost him?
Lewis Hamilton has been warned for driving slow in the pit exit.
Two minutes to go
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Two minute warning sounded, Antonelli still top as drivers start their final laps.
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Antonelli and Russell are first and second, Piastri and Norris are three and four.
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All 10 cars are back in the garage before their final laps.
Lindblad time deleted
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His first lap has been wiped for a track limit infringement.
Antonelli on top early
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The Mercedes sets a 1m 28.778s to take provisional pole. Russell is 0.298s back.
Q3 underway
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All 10 drivers are on track for the shootout.
Who will take pole?
Lawson damage?
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Lawson's race engineer Alexandre Iliopoulos has been heard telling the Kiwi there was damage to his front wing, but wasn't sure where it came from.
Lawson's radio message
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“I just had so much oversteer through sector one,” Lawson told his race engineer after his elimination.
Nearly ready for Q3
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Not long now until we get underway, 13 minutes to decide who starts on pole.
Eliminated in Q2
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11. Max Verstappen - Red Bull
12. Esteban Ocon - Haas
13. Nico Hulkenberg - Audi
14. Liam Lawson - Racing Bulls
15. Franco Colapinto - Alpine
16. Carlos Sainz - Williams
Lawson out in Q2
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Lawson misses the top 10 by 0.386s.
Antonelli tops Q2 by 0.255s from Leclerc in second, and Piastri third.
Verstappen will start 11th.
Lawson out
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Lawson improves to 1m 30.495s, but it's only enough for 14th, he's out in Q2.
Verstappen is out too, he's currently 11th and could fall further.
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Lindblad goes 10th, and pushes Verstappen into the drop zone!
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Less than 30 seconds to go to start their final laps.
Verstappen in danger?
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He's currently 10th, and just 0.150s clear of 11th.
He needs to improve, big time.
Lawson returns
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The Kiwi is now on his out lap. Less than 3 minutes left in Q2.
He's 0.641s shy of the drop.
Leclerc quick
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The Ferrari man could pinch P1 here.
He's just set the fastest time through the first sector.
Lawson still in the garage.
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Russell goes second, with a 1m 29.767s.
Both Red Bulls and Ferraris are back on track, as are the McLarens and Ocon.
Piastri top
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The Aussie leads after the first set of laps, with a 1m 29.451s, 0.323s quicker than Antonelli.
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Only Piastri, Norris and Russell are out on track at the moment, the rest of the field are back in the garage preparing for their final laps.
Around 7 minutes to go in the session.
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Important to note that Lawson's time in Q2 was slower than the one he finished Q1 with, so no need to worry just yet.
There is improvement to come.
Lawson falls
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The Kiwi is quickly dropping down the ladder, he's 0.641s outside the top 10 after everyone set a lap.
Lawson is 15th, ahead of only Carlos Sainz.
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Lindblad goes seventh with his first effort, before Hulkenberg takes it off him.
Lawson crosses the line 10th, with a 1m 31.004s.
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More cars setting their first laps.
Leclerc goes second, 0.011s back from Antonelli.
Verstappen is the slowest to have set a lap, 0.589s off the pace.
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Russell crosses the line, and posts 1m 30.117s. Antonelli goes quicker by 0.343s, before Hamilton is just 0.001s behind!
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Russell currently the lead driver, and will be first to post a time.
Lawson on track
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The Kiwi is now among the drivers on track. Can he crack the top 10?
He was just 0.073s away from a top 10 place in Q1.
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All Ferraris, Mercedes and Red Bull are on track to start.
No sign of McLaren, as Lindblad joins in.
Green light for Q2
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We're away again! Another 15 minutes on the clock.
Eliminated
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17. Alex Albon - Williams
18. Ollie Bearman - Haas
19. Sergio Perez - Cadillac
20. Valtteri Bottas - Cadillac
21. Fernando Alonso - Aston Martin
22. Lance Stroll - Aston Martin
End of Q1
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Ollie Bearman is out! Wow. He's been a standout this season.
Lawson has finished with the 11th fastest time, and avoids the drop by 0.431s. Interestingly, the Kiwi is just 0.073 shy of the top 10.
Leclerc advances as the fastest car, both Mercedes are two and three.
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Lawson falls to 11th, but Williams' Alex Albon and Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas are both out too.
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Lawson is 0.433s clear of elimination.
Both Aston Martins have been knocked out.
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Lawson falls to 15th. Time is up for drivers to start their final laps.
Lawson goes into the top 10 with a 1m 30.657s - but will it be enough?
Lawson begins final Q1 lap
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The Kiwi is on the clock, can he progress?
He's currently 14th.
Russell goes second
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He's just posted a 1m 29.967s, so trails Leclerc by 0.052s.
Russell and the two Ferraris head back to the garage, that should be them done for Q1.
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Just under three minutes to go.
Max Verstappen is really struggling here. He's down in ninth, with teammate Isack Hadjar in eighth.
They will almost certainly both advance, but they aren't challenging the leader at the moment.
Gap to the drop
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Lawson is currently 0.462 clear of elimination, with 17th place currently held by Williams' Alex Albon.
Drivers are now leaving the garage for their final laps in Q1.
Lawson back in the garage
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The Kiwi and his Racing Bulls teammate are back in the garage before their final runs.
Leclerc breaks 1m 30s, and sets a 1m 29.925 to go fastest.
Just over five minutes remaining.
Leclerc goes quicker
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Hold that thought, Leclerc is now lapping faster than Hamilton!
Hamilton lapping quick
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The seven-time world champion has set the fastest first sector, he could go top here.
Antonelli top
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The Mercedes puts in a 1m 30.035s, teammate George Russell is more than half a second back after his opening lap, down in seventh.
Lawson improves
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The Kiwi goes better, and posts a 1m 31.048.
He sits 13th with every driver having set a lap time.
He's 0.728s clear of the drop zone, for now.
Leclerc goes top!
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The Ferrari now tops the tables! Leclerc puts in a 1m 30.078s for a 0.360s lead.
Lawson has fallen to 11th, four drivers still to post a lap.
Piastri goes top
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The McLarens go 1-2! Piastri sets a 1m 30.438s, Norris is 0.238s back. Lewis Hamilton bisects them to go second, 0.190s back from Piastri.
Waiting on what Mercedes can do.
Russell still in the garage
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The Mercedes is the only car yet to leave yet.
Hold that, the No 63 car is now on track. Just under 12 minutes to go.
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Lawson drops to fourth as Alex Albon posts a 1m 31.776s.
Only 10 drivers have set a lap at the moment.
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Ocon's Haas goes top, 0.319s clear of the Kiwi.
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While Lawson will be the first one to post a lap time, Haas' Esteban Ocon is lapping quicker.
Lawson posts a 1m 31.785s, and is immediately passed by teammate Arvid Lindblad, 0.151s quicker.
Lawson on the clock
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First lap underway. Several drivers are still in the garage, plenty of time left in Q1.
Lawson leads the way
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Lawson is the first driver out, and will therefore be the first to set a time...
Here we go!
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The cars are lined up and ready to get their opening laps on the board.
We have green lights - and the two Racing Bulls cars are first on track!
Format
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So, just to go over things, the first session - Q1 - will last 18 minutes, and see the bottom six drivers eliminated.
Q2 will go for 15 minutes, and again see the bottom six drop out to give us a top 10.
From there, Q3 will see who starts on pole, and which other drivers make up the front of the field.
Last race
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Just under two weeks ago, Lawson started outside the top 10, but managed to secure points finishes in the Chinese sprint and grand prix.
That will be much more difficult here, but with cars' power issues off the start line, anything is possible.
Conditions
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There is a hearty wind blowing across Suzuka, which could give the drivers trouble through the 'S' parts of the track.
On track, the temperature is currently 32 degrees, so no real worry over excess tyre wear.
Ten minutes until we get going.
Importance of qualifying
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Suzuka is a notoriously difficult track to overtake on.
The Japanese circuit is narrow, and only really gives opportunities to pass on the opening straight at the start of the lap.
Last year's race featured just 15 overtakes after the opening lap, including pit stops.
Qualifying, then, becomes arguably the most important session of the weekend.
Piastri warned
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Decision from the stewards, Oscar Piastri has been given a warning for impeding Nico Hulkenberg into turn 13 during FP3.
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Just under 30 minutes to go until we're underway.
Teams are going through their final setup changes for qualifying.
Lawson's 2025
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Also this time last year, Liam Lawson returned to Japan after being demoted by Red Bull, back to Racing Bulls.
He responded by outqualifying his replacement, Yuki Tsunoda, in his first attempt.
Last year
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This time in 2025, Max Verstappen took pole position - his fourth straight at Suzuka - with a lap time of 1m 26.983s.
Times across the three practice sessions have been a couple of seconds slower than that, so let's see what teams can produce in qualifying.
Welcome back!
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Kia ora, and we're back to build into qualifying.
We're still just under an hour away, so we'll bring you everything as it comes to hand.
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Thanks for joining us for FP3, we'll be back at around 6pm for all the build-up to qualifying!
FP3 wrap
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- Liam Lawson 12th, 0.191s clear of Racing Bulls teammate Arvid Lindblad, and 1.735s off the pace.
- Mercedes claim the top two spots, Kimi Antonelli setting the best lap with a 1m 29.362s
- World champion Lando Norris is sixth, 1.238s off the pace. McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri is fourth, 1.002s behind Antonelli.
- Max Verstappen was eighth, 1.548s back.
Session over
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That's it then. Another Mercedes 1-2, Leclerc the best of the rest, 0.867s back from Antonelli.
Less than a minute to go
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Looks like Lawson will just miss the top 10. He's just 0.015s back from Gasly in 10th.
The Kiwi is 1.735s off the leader, Antonelli, as he takes the chequered flag.
Lawson improves
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He's able to set a 1m 31.097s on the softs to go clear of Lindblad by 0.191s.
The Racing Bulls cars are 12th and 13th respectively.
Lawson's lap ruined
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The Kiwi loses control on his timed lap to avoid one of the Haas cars.
"What the f*** man," he's heard telling his race engineer. "He literally just parked it on the apex the whole way through".
Lawson on track
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The Kiwi emerges, with a new set of softs on. How quick can he go?
Verstappen has just gone seventh, 1.548s back from Antonelli.
10 minutes to go
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Into the final stretch. Teams are now fitting new softs to have a crack at a qualifying simulation before the end of the session.
Lawson still in the garage.
Lawson still in the garage
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The Kiwi is the only Red Bull-backed car not on track. Lindblad is currently ninth, Verstappen 10th and Hadjar 12th on the timesheet.
Two Audis in the top 10
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A good performance from the newcomers so far.
Nico Hulkenberg is fifth, 1.296s back from Antonelli. Gabriel Bortoleto is eighth, 1.739s behind.
Norris goes sixth
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The world champion puts in a 1m 31.094s to bump Lawson out of the top 10.
Ollie Bearman spins, but keeps his car in one piece, to briefly bring out a yellow flag at turn 14.
All is well though.
Mercedes on top
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Russell goes even quicker, and then Antonelli is even faster!
He sets a 1m 29.362s.
Lawson back in the garage
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Interesting, just two laps in that last stint. Will he switch for softs?
Less than 20 minutes to go in the session.
Norris goes 11th
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Wow. The McLaren's first lap is a 1m 31.463s, 0.083s behind Lawson.
Norris on the clock
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The world champion begins his timed lap. Can he join Piastri in challenging the Mercedes.
Lawson on the mediums
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The Kiwi swaps his used mediums for some new ones.
Don't expect him to shoot to the top here, but he should be a bit quicker than he was with the fresh boots.
Lawson in the garage
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The Kiwi comes in, and is then immediately back out again.
Change of tyres, not sure what compound he's running now though.
Lawson improves
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Another weekend-best lap from Lawson. He puts in a 1m 31.380s, but not enough to move up the leaderboard, still 10th.
Norris makes a late entrance
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McLaren have completed the battery change, and Norris will run in this session after all.
Mercedes pulling clear
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Here we go. Russell goes top, 1m 29.918s, just 0.011s clear of Antonelli in second.
Lawson between two Red Bulls
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The Kiwi is 0.037s behind Max Verstappen, but 0.133s clear of Isack Hadjar.
Still holding onto 10th.