My mid-season report card: Liam Lawson

Picking up the first win of the season, Liam Lawson has been a consistent threat throughout the campaign, but misfortunate has minimised the number of points he’s been able to pick up. Currently sitting eighth in the standings, how would he grade his own performances?

The Red Bull junior fills out his mid-season report card…

NAME: Liam Lawson TEAM: Hitech Grand Prix AGE: 19 PODIUMS: 2 WINS: 1

RATING OUT OF 10: 7

“Either a seven, or maybe even a six. The speed is awesome and out of the three, four seasons that I have raced in Europe, this is the year that I think we’ve got the strongest package and the best chance of fighting for the Championship, but it just hasn’t gone cleanly.

“We’ve just been involved in too many things that didn’t need to happen, and that’s where we’ve lost points.”

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE SEASON SO FAR?

"It has been pretty rocky, very up and down. It started very, very well in Bahrain and the pace has been really good all year, apart from at Silverstone where we struggled, but the first three rounds were really, really good.

“With this new format, it is quite hard to have a consistent weekend and we have just lacked the consistency. We have had penalties, I got disqualified from Monaco, and then I have been involved in incidents that just didn't need to happen. Without those, we would be right on track, though, so if we can tidy up on that then it will be better.”

WHAT HAS BEEN THE STRONGEST ASPECT OF YOUR SEASON SO FAR?

“Qualifying in Baku. Getting pole position there was really strong. Our pace that weekend was really, really good, we just didn't get the chance to properly show it.

“We were taken out of the first race and then there was the penalty in the Feature Race, so we didn't get a shot at trying to win the race, but that qualifying session would be our strongest point of the season so far.”

WHAT HAS BEEN THE WEAKEST ASPECT OF THE SEASON SO FAR?

“Silverstone. We just lacked speed all weekend, both in race pace and quali pace, it just wasn't there. We are looking into that and trying to improve it to make sure that it doesn't happen again. It’s not ideal when you are lacking pace like that.”

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT THIS SEASON?

“In F2, consistency is everything. With this new format, just trying to survive those reverse grid races is really important. You have got to try and grab as many points as you can in those because there are a lot available.

“Two out of the three races are reverse grid, so making the most out of those is quite difficult. Trying to get through the weekend is cleanly is crucial to bagging as many points as possible.”

WHY ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON?

“The more I drive the car the more I learn and the more I get used to it. We are continuing to develop. I know that the speed has been there all year, we just haven't had the chance to show it.

“If we can have some clean rounds, then it would be nice to really show what pace the car has because the team have been working really, really well and I just would like to have some clean and consistent rounds and try and make up points again.”