Lawson finishes among points

Liam Lawson has clinched his seventh top 10 finish of the Formula 1 season after finishing ninth in the Qatar Grand Prix.

The Kiwi driver started 12th on the grid for Racing Bulls but moved up to finish among the points at the chequered flag in a race won by defending world champion Max Verstappen.

Lawson, pictured front, finished one place ahead of Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, with their rivalry under scrutiny as the pair are widely believed to be in a battle for one of the seats at Racing Bulls next season.

Isack Hadjar, Lawson’s teammate this season but who is expected to join Verstappen at Red Bull in 2026, had been on course for a strong finish at Qatar but was forced out of the race on lap 56 because of a puncture when in sixth place.

“It’s positive to come away from the race with points after where we started,” says Lawson. 

“We had really strong pace when we were in clean air but then spent the majority of the race in traffic.

“It’s a shame to not have both cars in the points today after the damage Isack experienced towards the end, however, I’m looking forward to closing out the season in Abu Dhabi while we fight for our position in the constructors’.”

Alan Perman, team principal, says Lawson had a “very strong race” and showed good pace throughout the contest on December 1 (NZ time).

The Qatar result means the race for the title is going to a final showdown between Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who are separated by 16 points at the top of the standings.

Norris has 408 points and leads the championship from Verstappen on 396 and Piastri with 392 heading into the last round at Abu Dhabi on December 8 (NZ time).

Meanwhile, Hadjar is 10th in the standings with 51 points, Lawson is 14th on 38, and Tsunoda is 15th on 33.