Liam Lawson explains decision to abandon Q3 participation at US GP

Liam Lawson has explained why he opted to not set a lap during the Q3 segment of qualifying at the United States Grand Prix.

The New Zealander advanced into the final session alongside team-mate Arvid Lindblad at the Circuit of the Americas.

However, at the start of the pole shootout, Lawson climbed out of the car and did not participate in the session, consolidating a P10 result.

With Lindblad carrying an engine-related grid penalty into the session, Lawson acknowledged that the fifth row of the grid was the best the team could hope for as it decided to save tyres.

“I would have loved to have a go in Q3,” Lawson told media including RacingNews365. 

“We actually got there with two sets as well, which is not normal for us. 

“In a normal situation, if we're fighting an Alpine or an Audi, having those two sets would have been great to use. 

“I would have loved to have a go at it, but considering Arvid's got a penalty, we're going to be ninth and 10th anyway.

“It just didn't make sense. Now we have plenty of tyres for tomorrow.”

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Lawson admits “frustrating” feeling behind Q3 absence

Lawson will start Sunday's race from ninth on the grid as he goes in the hunt for another point-scoring result as Racing Bulls close in on fifth place in the standings.

While he was denied a chance to do a final push lap in Q3 by the team, Lawson admitted he pleaded his case to do so.

“I'll be honest, I said I want to go and do it, and they said 'no'. 

“It's frustrating a little bit for a driver, especially because we've had a very strong weekend so far. The car has been very good. 

“Q1 on one set we were comfortably through. Q2 was a little bit trickier, to be honest. 

“Going into Q3 with two sets of tyres would have been lots of fun.”