Lawson disqualified from Mexico City Grand Prix qualifying after technical breach

Liam Lawson was disqualified from the qualifying session for the Mexico City Grand Prix after officials determined his Racing Bulls car breached the minimum MGU-K power requirement. The New Zealander had originally set the eighth-fastest time, which would have been reduced to ninth after a one-place grid penalty for an earlier incident with Max Verstappen in free practice. However, stewards found that the driver did not lift off power immediately after crossing the control line at the end of his fastest lap in Q2, causing the rate of reduction of MGU-K deployment to fall outside the limits set by the regulations.

The FIA Technical Delegate’s report stated that both the driver’s maximum power demand and the electrical DC power of the ERS-K were reduced at greater rates than permitted. After a hearing that included Racing Bulls representatives, Lawson, the Single Seater Sporting Director and FIA technical officials, the stewards ruled that the infringement warranted disqualification, meaning Lawson will start the race from the back of the grid.

"Evidence submitted, which was accepted by all parties present, showed that after the control line at the end of his fastest lap in Q2, the driver did not lift off the power immediately," the stewards’ decision read. "The team argued that this did not provide any performance advantage however it is clear that non-compliance with the Technical Regulations is not excused if no performance advantage is gained. Further, these regulations require that a car must comply with them at all times during an event." The stewards also noted that, despite the team’s self-disclosure of the breach, precedent required a penalty of disqualification.