Lawson frustration at back-of-the-grid Chinese GP Qualifying

Liam Lawson will start the Chinese Grand Prix from last after another disappointing performance in Qualifying.

Lawson has endured a difficult start to his Red Bull career, qualifying 18th in Australia and last for both the Sprint and Grand Prix in Shanghai this weekend, with his Q1 effort 1.191s off McLaren’s Lando Norris’ best in that phase.

In the same session, his Red Bull team mate Max Verstappen was fifth – 0.720s clear of the New Zealander.

“It’s very, very tough and I can get upset at the traffic issues and the things like that, but it shouldn’t be the difference between me getting through or not,” conceded Lawson.

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MARCH 22: Liam Lawson of New Zealand driving the (30) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 — Lawson was slowest in both Qualifying sessions in China

“I have a whole lot of things to sort out myself before I can look at getting a little bit of traffic and things like that. It’s just frustrating.”

Asked by Sky Sports F1 exactly what it is that he needs to get on top of with the RB21, he added: “It’s just time.

“Unfortunately, I don’t really have time but it’s just one of those things. To drive a Formula 1 car, it takes 100% confidence in what you’re doing. It’s not that I don’t feel confident, the window is just so small... and it’s that I need to get a handle on.

“I don’t know how else to put it really, it’s just not good enough.”

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MARCH 22: Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Oracle Red Bull Racing prepares to drive — Small margins are costing Lawson

Lawson impressed last year with RB [now Racing Bulls] but has found it tough going following his Red Bull promotion.

In treacherous conditions last weekend in Australia, he struggled to make progress through the order before crashing while remaining on slicks as the rain fell, but there was some positivity in Saturday’s Sprint race, as he climbed steadily to 14th.