Lawson Loses Power in F1 Opener, New Cars Spark Frustration | 1News
MELBOURNE, Australia – Liam Lawson’s Australian Grand Prix was marred by a frustrating start and ongoing power management issues, ultimately resulting in a 13th-place finish despite a determined drive through the field. The Racing Bulls driver experienced a complete loss of power off the starting grid, dropping him from eighth to 20th in the opening moments of the race at Albert Park on .
“The car didn’t move, lost all power, and I couldn’t get power for about five seconds. I was just sitting there,” Lawson explained immediately after the race, describing the ordeal as “pretty frustrating.” He added that he had “no idea” what caused the issue, despite believing he had executed the start procedure correctly. The incident occurred as Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, starting directly behind Lawson, was forced to swerve to avoid contact as other cars surged past.
Despite the disastrous start, Lawson demonstrated resilience, overtaking multiple competitors to climb to 13th by the race’s conclusion. Yet, the result was insufficient to secure any championship points. In contrast, Lawson’s rookie teammate, Arvid Lindblad, enjoyed a stellar debut, launching from the grid into fourth position and ultimately finishing eighth, earning valuable points for Racing Bulls.
The Australian Grand Prix also saw a collision between Lawson and former Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez, who now races for Cadillac. The incident was investigated by race officials, adding another layer of complexity to Lawson’s challenging race.
Beyond the initial start, Lawson battled ongoing issues throughout the race, specifically related to energy management. “Every time I got to the back of a car, our energy management wasn’t really working properly, and I kept actually losing power,” he said, highlighting the difficulties he faced while attempting to overtake.
Frustrations with New Regulations
The Australian Grand Prix marked the first race under a new set of regulations introducing hybrid engines with a 50-50 split between combustion and electric power. This shift places a greater emphasis on drivers’ ability to manage battery levels, recharging them through braking and throttle lift. Lawson had previously expressed concerns about the new system, stating before the race that he struggled to maintain battery power for a full lap at full throttle.
“We just don’t have enough energy to basically do a lap with full power, with full throttle, like we would normally wish to,” Lawson said.
Lawson wasn’t alone in his frustrations. Numerous drivers voiced complaints about the new cars and the challenges they presented. Five cars failed to finish the race, including Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac), Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin). Oscar Piastri (McLaren) crashed before the formation lap, and Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) experienced a car failure that prevented him from starting. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) also effectively retired, finishing 15 laps behind the race leader.
World champion Lando Norris was particularly critical, stating, “We’ve come from the best cars ever made in Formula 1 and the nicest to drive to probably the worst.” When asked if there was anything he liked about the new cars, Norris responded bluntly, “No, not really.”
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen echoed these sentiments, admitting he was “not having fun at all” and feeling “no emotion” during the weekend. Despite his struggles, Verstappen managed to finish sixth after starting in 20th place.
In contrast to the widespread discontent, race winner George Russell offered a more positive assessment. “The car, to be fair, especially in these conditions when they’re lighter, is super fun to drive,” he said. He acknowledged the learning curve associated with the new power units but maintained that it was “part of the game.” Russell praised the car’s agility and improved ride quality at low speeds.
The Australian Grand Prix highlighted the significant adjustments teams and drivers are facing with the introduction of the new regulations. While some, like Russell, are finding positives in the new system, others, including Lawson, are grappling with challenges related to power management and overall car performance. The coming races will be crucial in determining whether teams can overcome these hurdles and unlock the full potential of the new hybrid engines.