Liam Lawson has suffered a second consecutive early qualifying exit, this time in the first sprint shootout of 2025 ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver had a moment at Turn 10 and was forced to abort his lap in the opening part of the sprint shootout, at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Lawson will start Saturday’s sprint race from last after being 1.5s adrift of pacesetter Lewis Hamilton.
It further increases the pressure on the New Zealander, who was eliminated in Q1 at the Australian Grand Prix before crashing out in the race. Lawson also went through the gravel during practice.
Lawson was joined in the bottom five in Shanghai sprint qualifying by Jack Doohan, Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg.
