Red Bull chiefs want to give Liam Lawson time to adjust after the Kiwi finished dead-last in Sprint Qualifying for the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix.
Lawson has had difficulty adjusting to the Red Bull RB21, suffering a Q1 exit and DNF at the season opener in Australia.
Another new circuit awaited the Kiwi this weekend in Shanghai with Lawson granted just one practice session to prepare ahead of Sprint Qualifying, where things unravelled once again.
While Max Verstappen wound up second in Friday’s session, Lawson was dumped out at the first hurdle, propping up the field in SQ1.
Four tenths off of the Dutchman in his first flying run, Lawson saw his second attempt struck from the timesheet after running wide at Turn 9.
Struggling to cool his Medium Pirelli rubber ahead of the blast, Lawson’s lap was fraught with low grip and he was seen grappling with his Red Bull RB21 before his untimely Sprint Qualifying exit.
“I went off, so yeah, it’s obviously a shame,” a downbeat Lawson said after SQ1.
“I think from a starting point it wasn’t too bad, the first lap was alright, and then we were just looking to build on there.
“But we stayed out to try to cool the tyres on track, and to be honest I really struggled to get the temps down starting the second lap.
“Basically we started too hot and then through the lap I just struggled. It’s frustrating.
“It’s really a shame because I think honestly, we started okay in Quali.
“The first lap wasn’t amazing but it was relatively okay, so it’s just a shame to be out for something so frustrating.
Given his team-mate qualified second, it’s no wonder Lawson believed “Our pace should be a lot further up than where we are.
“Obviously we have tomorrow’s sprint race to try and learn some stuff and then tomorrow’s quali as well, obviously. We want to do a better job on this.”
Marko and Horner taking pressure off of Lawson
The typically harsh Helmut Marko was more sympathetic to Lawson’s struggles when speaking with the Dutch arm of Motorsport.com.
“It’s sad, but he needs some laps and he must get in a rhythm to show his potential,” the Austrian said.
“I think we have to give him more time. Both circuits, he didn’t know, Melbourne and this one.
“So we’re looking forward and of course first, next to Max, it looks also that our car is quite difficult to drive.”
Team Principal Christian Horner’s assessment of the Lawson situation was similar when approached to comment by Sky Sports‘ Martin Brundle ahead of Friday’s session.
“We’re only at race two,” Horner said.
“It’s a circuit he’s never seen before. So I think we have to be fair and give him time. And he will he will get there.
“But we just need to give him the back and give him time. And, you know, he’s in a highly pressured seat. And it doesn’t get any easier.”
Later in Friday’s press conference, Horner continued his Lawson analysis.
“I think Liam’s got a pretty sensible head on his shoulders,” Horner added.
“It was a tough baptism for him [in Melbourne].
“He still came away with the second fastest race lap. And I just told him: “Ignore the naysayers, ignore social media, put your head down and you’ll be fine.”
“He just needs a bit of time.”
Time is something Lawson has been granted by Red Bull and the crucial element he needs to find out on track.
READ MORE – Christian Horner highlights positive from incident-ridden Liam Lawson Red Bull F1 debut
