![\"Lawson](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/XPB_1404710_HiRes.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLiam Lawson secured more points after finishing ninth in Japan. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLiam Lawson secured more points after finishing ninth in Japan. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
The Racing Bulls driver made it back-to-back top-10 results despite starting outside the points, using strategy and race craft to climb through the field at Suzuka.<\/p>\n
Lawson admitted the timing of the Safety Car, brought out by a heavy crash from the Haas of Oliver Bearman, proved decisive after working against him in China, allowing him to extend his opening stint before making a well-timed stop that ultimately lifted him into contention.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt helped us today,\u201d Lawson told Speedcafe and other media when asked about the Safety Car.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t ideal in China and then here it\u2019s definitely helped us.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, yeah, to come away with points is very, very positive.\u201d<\/p>\n
After a difficult qualifying session left him down the order, Lawson revealed the team was still trying to understand a lack of performance linked to setup changes made late in the session.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe definitely struggled at the start,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we have to look over how we ended qualifying with the wing we put on the car, it was not where we expected it to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo was definitely quite confusing there.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd today starting the race as well, it was also quite difficult to drive.<\/p>\n
So we\u2019ll look over everything. And learn from it going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
From 14th on the grid, Lawson made immediate progress on the opening lap and settled into the midfield train, where overtaking proved notoriously difficult throughout the race.<\/p>\n
That challenge was compounded by the nature of the regulations energy deployment, with Lawson describing a race where passing attempts were often short-lived.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think if you ask Esteban [Ocon] who was behind me, he was quite a lot quicker and he couldn\u2019t overtake,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, for me, it was very difficult today. I was in the train at the start where I had difficulties with the car.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven watching Max [Verstappen] and the guys in front. It was very hard to overtake.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis race was definitely the hardest. So for me, it feels more difficult right now.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t really matter what you do. You\u2019re forced to use energy to make a pass and there\u2019s always, here at least, pretty much a straight afterwards that you get repassed by.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lawson spent much of the closing stages of the race under pressure from Ocon but held firm, managing his energy deployment to ensure he could respond to any serious challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew that if Esteban used energy to pass me, I would be able to pass him back again,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think he knew that. So we just stayed sustainable the whole time. And it kept me in front.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ninth-place finish follows Lawson\u2019s seventh in China and lifts him to 10th in the drivers\u2019 standings after three rounds.<\/p>\n
Antonelli wins as Piastri denied Japanese GP win by Safety Car<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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