Liam Lawson Disqualified from Mexico City Qualifying After Technical Breach
Williams driver Liam Lawson was stripped of his qualifying times in Mexico City after a technical infringement was discovered on his car.
Williams’ rookie Liam Lawson will not start the Mexican Grand Prix from the grid positions he earned on Saturday after the FIA ruled his car breached technical regulations during qualifying. The decision, announced by the sport’s governing body, nullified all of Lawson’s lap times, effectively relegating him to the back of the field for the race.
What triggered the disqualification?
According to Formula1.com, post‑session scrutineering revealed that the rear wing of Lawson’s FW45 did not conform to the prescribed dimensions outlined in the 2024 technical appendix. The deviation was small but sufficient for the stewards to deem the car non‑compliant, invoking Article 3.6 of the FIA Technical Regulations which mandates immediate disqualification of any qualifying times set with an illegal component.
Williams team principal James Vowles expressed disappointment but emphasized that the team would focus on rectifying the issue before the race. "We respect the stewards’ decision and will ensure the car is fully compliant for Sunday’s start. Our priority now is to give Liam the best possible chance to fight from the back," Vowles said in a brief statement to the media.
Implications for the weekend
The penalty not only shuffles Lawson to the back of the grid but also reshuffles the starting order for other drivers. Notably, the disqualification promotes Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who qualified fourth, up to third on the grid, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc moves up to fourth. The change could influence strategy choices, especially on a circuit like Mexico City where tyre degradation and altitude play a crucial role.
Lawson, who had posted a best lap of 1:16.842, will now have to rely on a strong race start and optimal tyre management to climb the ranks. The rookie’s weekend has already been eventful, having suffered a spin in practice and a brief off‑track excursion in the final qualifying session before the technical breach was identified.
For Indian fans
The Mexican Grand Prix will be broadcast live in India on FanCode, with the race kicking off at 02:00 IST on Sunday. Fans can follow Lawson’s comeback attempt in real time, and the revised grid will be displayed on the pre‑race broadcast. Given the time zone, Indian viewers will be able to watch the full race without any late‑night inconvenience, making it an ideal opportunity to see how the rookie copes with a back‑of‑the‑grid start.
Source: Formula1.com