Liam Lawson believes F1’s new qualifying style is “unfortunate” and “strange.”
According to Liam Lawson, the new style of qualifying in F1 can be mentally challenging for drivers as they can no longer push flat-out. Due to the new batteries lacking enough energy for a full lap at normal qualifying speed, drivers have had to adjust their styles during a flying lap, much to their disappointment. Energy usage was reduced to 8MJ from 9MJ for the Japanese GP to minimize lift and coast, yet drivers still criticized the new system at Suzuka. Lawson from Racing Bulls described the new driving style as “strange,” noting the frustration of extracting performance while managing energy consumption. Adhering to these additional rules during qualifying has made the process more complex, requiring drivers to trust the methods and follow them diligently in order to go as fast as possible.
