Liam Lawson has stated that being unable to cool his tyres between efforts in the first phase of Sprint Qualifying was to blame for him setting the slowest time on Friday.
Following a poor Qualifying and retirement during the season-opening weekend in Australia, Lawson was unable to put things right in China as he struggled once again to get to grips with the Red Bull RB21.
While team mate Max Verstappen went on to qualify second to Lewis Hamilton, the New Zealander was cut adrift at the foot of the timings, ending the session 0.558s from safety – a position secured by Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar.
“Mate, I’m really sorry,” the Red Bull newcomer said over the radio as he immediately apologised to his engineer, with a P20 start on the grid to come for Saturday’s Sprint.
