Strong start for Liam Lawson in Bahrain
The opening round of the Formula 2 season in Bahrain has been productive for Giltrap Group backed Liam Lawson
Mar 25, 2022
Lawson secured a third placing during the Formula 2 sprint race and a second during the longer feature race.
It’s been a strong start in Bahrain for Giltrap Group backed Formula 2 driver, Liam Lawson. The young Kiwi has impressed management at his new Carlin team with two podium finishes during the weekend.
Lawson secured a third placing during the Formula 2 sprint race and a second during the longer feature race. The productive outing at the season’s debut event has put Lawson second on the F2 championship table, only one point behind France’s Theo Pourchaire, who won the dramatic feature race.
It was a commanding performance from Lawson, who started sixth on the grid in a car he has had almost no physical seat time in leading up to the event. Lawson charged through the field on the line to be very close to Purchaire in the final stages. The race came down to a frenetic single lap sprint following a late safety car.
“The race was quite good, the start was really, good actually. To be honest, I thought I was going to grab maybe P2 in the first corner, but Jack Doohan squeezed me and I had rubbish all over my tyres,” Lawson said following the race.
It wasn’t plain sailing, but Lawson demonstrated superb race craft in managing some technical challenges mid race.
“To be honest I was probably close enough (to Purchaire) to go for a look, and I thought about it, but the safety car was so slow and I had no brake temperature, I didn't want to go and send it and have no brakes. So I basically played it a little bit safe there, obviously a lot more to lose. I think having confidence on the brakes maybe I could have gone for something.”
It’s that racing intellect that is impressing the decision makers in the top echelons of European Motorsport and a 2023 full time seat in F1 could now be very much within grasp for Lawson.
Lawson still see scope to improve. “We struggled a little bit, I wasn't as fast as I would have liked. The car was fast, I just used up a little bit too much tyre trying to catch up. Happy with the points, but obviously a little bit disappointed not to grab the win today.”
With the excellent signs of early pace in the Carlin car however, a race win and ultimately the Formula 2 crown will be very firmly in Lawson’s sights in his second F2 season.