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Liam Lawson will start Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix from the back of the grid after officials erased his qualifying result for a technical infringement.
The Racing Bulls driver had qualified ninth on Saturday, ahead of teammate Arvid Lindblad, in a session topped by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari. It was a record-extending 105th pole position for the Briton and his first for the Italian team.
Race stewards deleted Lawson’s laps after an inspection found his power unit’s output fell outside the regulations. The infringement was recorded as the 24-year-old crossed the line at the end of his fastest lap in the second qualifying session, when he had exhausted his battery energy.
The regulations require electrical power to decline at a controlled and progressive rate, not abruptly. In a statement, the stewards said Lawson “did not lift off the power immediately” as expected.
Formula One qualifying runs in three knockout segments, with only the fastest 10 drivers reaching the final session that sets the top of the grid.
Racing Bulls is the sister team of Red Bull. Lawson is fighting to keep his seat for 2027.
The demotion follows a tangle with four-time world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull during Friday’s practice, which resulted in both drivers receiving a one-place grid penalty. Lawson apologized to Verstappen, who will start from fifth, on Saturday morning.
Verstappen’s own session was also incident-filled. He claimed outgoing world champion Lando Norris of McLaren thwarted his pole bid, saying Norris ran slowly on the racing line and ruined his lap as he locked up and lost time.
“When I saw his car on the right, I couldn’t believe my eyes,” Verstappen said. “I was fighting for pole.”
Verstappen also supported his teammate Isack Hadjar, who was officially reprimanded for pushing aside an aggressive fan demanding a selfie with him in the chaotic paddock on Friday.
“I understand his reaction,” said the Dutchman. “It’s incredibly irritating when people just touch you without asking … I’ve never pushed anyone away, but there have been times when I came close.”
He added: “I’ve compared the paddock to a zoo before, and this is the situation you get when you let so many people in.”
Hadjar said he was relieved to receive a warning rather than a more severe punishment.
“It makes sense and I’m glad they made the right decision,” he said. “Fair play. I’m going to work. It’s not a reality show and I am going into the garage.”
The Mexico City Grand Prix is held at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in the Mexican capital, about 2,240 meters (7,350 feet) above sea level.
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