Daijiworld Media Network - Shanghai

Shanghai, Mar 22: Liam Lawson endured another tough outing in Formula 1 qualifying, securing the last position on the grid for the Chinese Grand Prix. The New Zealander has had a challenging start to his Red Bull Racing career, having previously qualified 18th in Australia and now finding himself at the back for both the Sprint race and Grand Prix in Shanghai.

In contrast, his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen managed to qualify fifth, a significant 0.720 seconds ahead of Lawson.

Speaking about his struggles, Lawson admitted his frustration, stating, "It’s very, very tough. I could blame traffic issues, but that’s not the real reason. I have a lot to figure out on my own before external factors come into play. It’s just frustrating."

When asked about the specific challenges he faces with the RB21, he explained, "It’s just time. Unfortunately, I don’t really have that luxury, but in F1, you need 100% confidence in what you’re doing. It’s not that I don’t feel confident—the margin for error is just so small, and I haven’t quite mastered it yet. Simply put, it’s not good enough."

Lawson had impressed last season with RB (now Racing Bulls) but has struggled to adapt following his Red Bull promotion. In Australia, he found it difficult to gain positions before crashing in the rain while on slick tires. However, there was a glimpse of progress in the Sprint race, where he climbed to 14th place.

Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri delivered a stellar performance to claim his first-ever pole position at the Chinese Grand Prix. George Russell narrowly missed out, finishing just under a tenth of a second behind the McLaren driver. Lando Norris, who has enjoyed a strong start to the season, will begin the race from P3 on Sunday, hoping to continue his impressive form.