Formula 1: Liam Lawson makes impressive start to Canadian Grand Prix, finishes top-10 in practice one
Liam Lawson has had an impressive start to Formula One's Canadian Grand Prix weekend at Montreal's Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve, logging a top-10 finish in the weekend's first practice session.
The Kiwi got through 29 laps on both soft and medium tyres, and set the eight-fastest time of the Free
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RNZ News
7 hours ago
- RNZ News
Kiwi Liam Lawson has top-10 finishes in Canadian Grand Prix practices
Liam Lawson edged Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar in early practice sessions. Photo: photosport Kiwi Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson has had encouraging placings in the first two practice sessions for the Canadian GP in Montreal. Lawson was eighth fastest in the first practice and 10th in the second, one day out from qualifying, with the Grand Prix scheduled for 6am Monday NZT. He was actually faster in the second session, beating his first mark by 0.79s. Mercedes driver George Russell finished fastest over the two sessions, after Max Verstappen took the honours in the first one at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Verstappen recorded 1m 13.193s in that session, with Lawson 0.544s behind. He was 0.628 seconds behind Russell, who had a fastest lap of 1m 12.123s. Liam Lawson in action at Canadian GP practice. Photo: AFP Lawson finished one place ahead of Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar in the second session, after the young Frenchman finished sixth in the first. Lawson was pleased with his efforts. "Personally it's been a fun day," he said. "It's a cool track. "It's been a place I've wanted to come to for a long time. I enjoyed it. "It's just very, very close, so we need to keep pushing the limits and finding every bit of speed we can." Lawson said navigating a path on the tight circuit was tough, "but we're all in the same boat - we have to deal with it". Ferrari's Charles Leclerc sat out the later session, after crashing in the first, leaving mechanics plenty of work to repair the car, Reuters reported. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll - who missed the previous race in Spain, due to hand and wrist pain - crashed at turn seven in second practice for his home grand prix and smashed the front-left suspension. Russell's time of 1m12.123s compared to Verstappen's earlier afternoon effort of 1m 13.193s. The pair qualified on the front row last year with identical times, with Russell on pole, but Verstappen went on to win the race for a third year in a row. They also clashed in Spain two weekends ago, with Verstappen left on the brink of a ban, after driving into the Mercedes. The Dutch driver was only ninth in Saturday's second practice, behind Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, with McLaren's Lando Norris the closest to Russell and only 0.028s slower. "The car is jumping like crazy in the rear, like the ride is terrible," reported Verstappen over the radio. Mercedes' strong form was emphasised by Russell's rookie teammate, Kimi Antonelli, setting the third best time, 0.288s off the pace. Runaway championship leaders McLaren had made a comparatively slow start to the weekend, until Norris' lap, with Australian Oscar Piastri seventh and sixth, and testing upgrades including a new front wing. Piastri leads Norris by 10 points after nine of the season's 24 rounds. Williams' Alex Albon was second and fourth in the sessions, but strangely missed his garage when pitting in the second and had to go around again, with teammate Carlos Sainz third and seventh. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso ended the day fifth. Leclerc brought out the red flags, when he hit the wall at the second chicane with 45 minutes remaining, causing extensive damage to his Ferrari. Ferrari said the survival cell needed to be replaced. - RNZ Sport/Reuters
1News
8 hours ago
- 1News
Formula 1: Lawson scores double top 10 finishes in Candian GP practice
Kiwi Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson will be aiming to break into the points at this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, after an impressive double top 10 finish during Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2. The Racing Bulls driver clocked a fastest lap time of 1:13.737s in FP1 - just 0.0544 off the lead from reigning world champion Max Verstappen, who set the fastest time of the session. Lawson finished the session in P8, behind teammate Isack Hadjar who finished P6. The Kiwi finished 10th during FP2- setting a fastest lap time of 1:12.751s on a set of soft tires. Mercedes driver George Russell went fastest in the session, with a fastest lap time of 1:12.123s. A points scoring finish in Montreal is crucial for Lawson, after narrowly missing out on a top 10 finish during the last race at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya in Spain. ADVERTISEMENT A poorly timed safety car saw the Kiwi slip to 11th during the final laps of the race, denying him what would have been his second points finish of the season. It will be a first-time racing at the Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve for both Lawson and Hadjar, with the track often absent from Formula 2 and Formula 3 calendars. Lawson on track during FP1 in Montreal. (Source: Getty) Verstappen walks a penalty tightrope Reigning world champion Max Verstappen will want to keep his racing clean in Canada, otherwise he could face a one race ban. The Dutch driver has racked up a total of 11 penalty points over a 12-month period- collecting three during the last race in Spain after a collision with Mercedes driver George Russell. Earning one more penalty point this weekend would sit Verstappen on 12 penalty points - enough to result in a one race ban. ADVERTISEMENT Verstappen said he is not changing his approach heading into the race weekend, despite the fine penalty margin. "I'm not here, of course, to try and get a ban," the Dutch driver said to reporters. "Missing a race is not ideal. But it's not the end of the world." Max Verstappen will hope to close the gap to McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the driver's standings. (Source: Getty) If Verstappen were to miss a Grand Prix, Red Bull would likely grab Lawson or teammate Hadjar to fill in for one race, with Racing Bulls reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa taking the vacant seat in the junior team. Verstappen has claimed victory in Montreal for the last three Grand Prix and will hope to finish ahead of current championship leaders McLaren in this weekend's race. Having won all but two races in the 2025 season, the reigning constructer's champions have established themselves as the team to beat. Oscar Piastri of McLaren currently leads the drivers' standings on 186 points, with teammate Lando Norris just 10 points behind. Qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix will take place Sunday morning (8am NZT), with the race taking place Monday (6am NZT).
NZ Herald
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- NZ Herald
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