Liam Lawson has had another tough day in Formula One. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand racing driver Liam Lawson has been eliminated after the first stage of qualifying for tomorrow's Chinese Grand Prix.
Lawson finished last of the 20 drivers in the stage.
Pierre Gasly, Ollie Bearman, Jack Doohan and Gabriel Bortoleto also failed to make it beyond the first stage.
"It's just really tough, honestly," he told the Sky Sport broadcast.
"The window is really small, it's not an excuse. I have to get a handle on it.
"It was a messy session, had we not dealt with traffic it might have been okay but it is still not good enough.
"We should be fast enough on our first lap. I just need to get on top of it."
"It's just time, unfortunately, I don't really have time. To drive a Formula One car takes 100 percent confidence in what you're doing. It's not that I don't have confidence, but the window is so small that I just seem to miss it.
"I don't know how else to put it. It's just not good enough."
Lawson will start from the back of the field in Sunday's big race.
He had earlier finished 14th in the Grand Prix sprint - won by Lewis Hamilton - earning plaudits from Red Bull boss Christian Horner for his driving, as he overtook five cars during the 19-lap event.
Australian Oscar Piastri finished fastest in qualifying to take pole position for Sunday's race.
The McLaren driver will have Mercedes' driver George Russell on the front row, while Lando Norris will start from three and Max Verstappen from four. Norris abandoned the final session.
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