Liam Lawson qualified last for China GP

To Lawson's credit, Q1 was a very complex session where 11 cars had to use three different sets of new soft tires. For example, Lando Norris' first attempt was deleted for exceeding track limits.

Liam Lawson aborted his first attempt, while his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen set, momentarily, the fastest time of Q1.

On his second attempt, he set a time 1.068 seconds slower than Max Verstappen that put him in the elimination zone and out of Qualy 2.

There were more than 4 minutes to go, but a third set of tires for Liam Lawson was unusual, as normally, drivers make two tire starts per round, however. Red Bull deemed it worthwhile to use a third set of red tires.

Lawson was not the only one who thought so, also 10 other drivers who felt they were in danger of being left out burned the third set.

An important factor was the evolution of the track and hence the late attempts.

However, Lawson was again last in the session with 1:32.174, 1.191 seconds off the best time of Q1, which in the end went to Lando Norris.

Jack Doohan, another in trouble, had the first spin of the day, in addition to being charged two points on his license for contact with Gabriel Bortoleto on the last lap of the Sprint.

Pierre Gasly, Oliver Bearman, Doohan and Bortoleto and Lawson were out of Q2. Both Racing Bulls drivers, a Red Bull subsidiary team, made the first cut.