Formula 1 saw Racing Bulls experience mixed feelings in qualifying for the 2026 Japanese GP, with Arvid Lindblad securing a place in the top 10 while Liam Lawson missed out on Q3 after a technical problem. The performance reinforces the car’s potential at Suzuka, but also highlights how small setbacks can be costly.
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Even with a competitive car throughout the weekend, the team was unable to maximize the result with both drivers. Still, there is confidence that the pace shown can yield points in the race.
Technical director Tim Goss highlighted the work done throughout free practice to find the best balance for the car. “We looked for the best compromise between the high-speed sector, turn 11 and the final chicane. We arrived confident in qualifying,” he stated.
According to him, the performance could have been even better without the problems faced. “Liam suffered front wing damage in Q2, which significantly compromised the car and hampered his second attempt. There was more pace available,” he explained.
On the other side of the garage, Lindblad was the standout performer by advancing to Q3 despite limited running over the weekend. “Suzuka was a new track for him and he still lost track time in FP2, but he had an excellent qualifying,” Goss praised.
The young driver celebrated the result and highlighted the progress throughout Saturday. “We did a brilliant job. We didn’t expect to put the car so much on the limit after the time we lost, so I’m very proud,” he said.
Lindblad also drew attention to the importance of the decisive lap in Q2. “I managed to extract everything on the last attempt and that was fundamental to reaching Q3,” he added.
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Despite the good performance, he recognizes that the race brings uncertainties. “We didn’t do long simulations, so it’s hard to predict. At Suzuka, overtaking is not easy, so it will be important to start well and execute everything perfectly,” he stated.
Lawson, meanwhile, lamented the missed opportunity, especially after a promising weekend. “We had a strong car, so it’s frustrating to be out in Q2,” he commented.
The New Zealander explained that the front wing problem was decisive. “This significantly compromised our qualifying. After the change, the car felt different from what I had felt before,” he said.
He believes he could have advanced further without the incident. “I think we had the potential to go to Q3, but we couldn’t show it,” he assessed.
For the race, the team maintains the clear objective of moving up the grid. “It’s hard to overtake here, and energy management will be important, but we’re going to try to recover positions,” Lawson concluded.
Goss reinforced the expectation for Sunday. “The car is working well and we want to put both cars in the points zone,” he finished.
