Liam Lawson has been disqualified from Mexico City Grand Prix qualifying. Image: XPB Images
The New Zealander was excluded from Saturday’s qualifying classification following an investigation into the deployment of his car’s MGU-K at the end of his fastest lap in Q2.
The stewards found that Lawson had not lifted off the power immediately after crossing the timing line, preventing the required reduction in electrical power from being achieved.
The infringement breached Articles C5.12.6 and C5.12.7 of Formula 1 regulations.
Racing Bulls disclosed the issue to officials and argued that the infringement had provided no performance advantage.
However, the stewards rejected that defence.
“The team argued that this did not provide any performance advantage however it is clear that non-compliance with the Technical Regulations is not excused if no performance advantage is gained,” the stewards said in their verdict.
“Further, these regulations require that a car must comply with them at all times during an event.”
They also pointed to previous cases requiring disqualification for technical infringements, regardless of mitigating circumstances.
“The Stewards note in particular that the team self-disclosed the breach however there are a multitude of precedents that require us, despite all mitigating circumstances, to impose a penalty of Disqualfication where a car does not comply with the Technical Regulations,” the verdict continued.
The decision adds to a difficult weekend for Lawson, who was already carrying a one-place grid penalty following his collision with Max Verstappen during Friday’s second practice session.
The pair made contact in the stadium section, damaging both cars and bringing out a brief red flag.
Both drivers subsequently received one-place grid penalties and a penalty point on their FIA superlicences, with Lawson approaching his former teammate on Saturday morning to apologise.
Despite that setback, qualifying had initially provided encouragement for Lawson, who reached Q3 for the 10th time this season and secured eighth ahead of Racing Bulls teammate Arvid Lindblad.
The result had put him in a strong position to fight for points on Sunday, with Racing Bulls continuing its battle against Alpine for fifth in the constructors’ championship.
Lawson had originally been set to start ninth once his grid penalty was applied, but his disqualification means he now faces starting from the back of the field.
He will also require permission from the stewards to participate in the race, although such approval is routinely granted based on practice session performances.
Racing Bulls could instead be forced into a pit lane start if it makes changes to Lawson’s car that breach parc ferme regulations.
The Mexico City Grand Prix begins at 7am AEDT on Monday.
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