Liam Lawson Records Top Ten Time in Austin Practice

The Racing Bulls driver clocked a top ten finish during the opening session for the upcoming US Grand Prix.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Motorsports

Liam Lawson Records Top Ten Time in Austin Practice

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Liam Lawson secured the 10th fastest time during the first practice session at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. His performance came despite officials deleting his faster lap due to track limit violations.

Why it matters

The session allowed the team to evaluate the final performance package of the season. Testing these updates in real-world conditions is vital for the team to assess their competitive standing ahead of the remaining races.

Lawson posted a 1m 37.309s lap to place 10th overall, while his faster 1m 37.048s effort was removed for track limit violations. Racing Bulls introduced four new vehicle components, including updates to the front wing, rear wing, floor, and engine cover.

The players

Liam Lawson

He is a professional racing driver currently competing for the Racing Bulls team.

Charles Leclerc

He is a Formula One driver who set the fastest time during the opening practice session.

Racing Bulls

This is a Formula One constructor that introduced a significant technical update package for this event.

The details

The team implemented four specific upgrades to the VCARB03 vehicle to improve performance on the Austin track. These modifications represent the final technical development package the team will bring to the grid for the remainder of the year.

October 23, 2026: Opening practice session for the US Grand Prix took place.

Season Trajectory

This performance highlights the team's final push to optimize the VCARB03 development program before the season ends. Successfully integrating these components now is critical for establishing a baseline performance level that informs the team's competitive strategy for next year.

Lawson's 10th-place finish provides a critical look at how the new floor and wing updates impact car balance. Fans should note that the deletion of the 1m 37.048s lap suggests the car is capable of higher speeds if track limits are strictly managed.

The takeaway

Testing new vehicle components during practice is essential for identifying potential setup issues before the main race. Drivers must balance aggressive driving with track discipline to ensure their fastest times remain official in the standings.