Lawson laughs off Tsunoda criticism in F1 US GP qualifying

Liam Lawson was left bemused by the criticism he received from former team-mate Yuki Tsunoda during qualifying for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.

The Red Bull driver accused Lawson of “disturbing me on purpose” and “slowing down like hell in corners” after Tsunoda got near to him in sector two during Q2 at Circuit of the Americas.

Both drivers were eventually eliminated from the session, as Tsunoda will start 13th for Sunday’s grand prix with Lawson in 12th - and the Racing Bulls racer brushed off the criticism he received.

“Honestly I have absolutely no idea what he has to complain about,” said Lawson, who was Tsunoda’s team-mate at RB last season.

“I don’t really remember being in front of him in qualifying today. He’s obviously angry, he can be angry, but it doesn’t bother me.”

Lawson was more frustrated by what he thinks cost him from progressing to Q3, as the 23-year-old Kiwi reckons his VCARB 02 had much more potential than it showed.

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

“Overall it was very, very strong,” said Lawson, who earlier on Saturday finished ninth in the Austin sprint race. “So it’s a shame we got a really big gust of wind at Turn 1 and it’s really upset the car.

“It’s just come at a really bad time. So it’s frustrating I think. If this was the best we had, OK I would have been obviously reasonably happy, but to have a very quick car this weekend and not extract it is frustrating.”

Tsunoda also feels as though he could have achieved more in qualifying and doubled down on his criticism of Lawson.

“I saw he was going very, very slow in Turn 11, kind of waiting for me, middle of the corner. So not ideal,” said Tsunoda, who finished seventh in the sprint. 

“Until then I had enough pace to go through to Q3 and I lost everything from that - so it was very frustrating.”

Tsunoda said he was unsure if Lawson did it deliberately, but revealed he’ll “mention it” to the Racing Bulls driver.