Lawson Disqualified From Mexico Qualifying and Sent to Back of Grid

Liam Lawson's Mexico City Grand Prix weekend has gone from promising to punishing after the Racing Bulls driver was disqualified from qualifying for a technical breach, wiping out his eighth-place effort. Lawson had already been due a one-place grid penalty for his clash with Max Verstappen in Friday practice, which would have left him ninth, but the stewards went much further after the FIA technical delegate reported a breach of the minimum MGU-K power requirement just after Lawson crossed the line on his fastest lap in Q2. The report found that the driver maximum power demand and the electrical DC power of the ERS-K were reduced at greater rates than the regulations permit. Racing Bulls self-disclosed the breach, and the team insisted no performance advantage was gained, but the stewards ruled that precedent requires disqualification wherever a car does not comply with the technical regulations. Lawson has been given permission to race, but he will start 22nd and last, with every driver who qualified behind him moving up a slot. Valtteri Bottas, already carrying a 50-place grid penalty for new engine parts in his Cadillac, lines up 21st. The reshuffle also confirms Max Verstappen dropping from fourth to fifth for the practice collision, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli promoted to fourth behind pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton.