Liam Lawson Involved In Huge Crash As Championship Hope Slips Away

Liam Lawson's aspirations for the Super Formula title took a massive hit following a violent crash at the Suzuka Circuit, cutting the race short and diminishing the New Zealander’s championship prospects. The incident has significantly dampened Lawson's chances, leaving his position in a precarious state.

Key Takeaways:

Disappointing Qualifying and Crash: Lawson started seventh and his race ended prematurely due to a crash involving other drivers on lap four, leading to the race's cancellation.
Championship Setback: Lawson dropped to sixth place, while his main title competitors finished first and second, widening the points gap.
Slim Title Chances Remain: Despite the setback, Lawson could still theoretically win the championship, but he faces a tough challenge ahead.

Drivers OK 👌 Absolutely insane crash at 130R 🙈

The crash that brought out the red flag in Super Formula at Suzuka.
Drivers: Ukyo Sasahara and Hiroki Otsu

Join us again tomorrow for the final round.#sformula #sf #superformula #motorsport #racing #suzuka #crash pic.twitter.com/QB3YUBASN8
— Motorsport.tv (@MotorsportTV_UK) October 28, 2023

After stepping in for Daniel Ricciardo and participating in five Grands Prix races in Formula 1, Liam Lawson shifted his focus back to Super Formula, eager to showcase his talent and make a strong impression on Red Bull and the broader racing community. However, his efforts to conquer the championship have now faced a significant hurdle at Suzuka.

Despite a less-than-stellar qualifying performance that left him in seventh place on the grid, Lawson was determined to make up ground during the race. However, his plans were thwarted on the fourth lap when Hiroki Otsu and Ukyo Sasahara collided at the 130R corner, resulting in a severe crash that forced both drivers into the tyre stacks. While Otsu walked away without injuries, Sasahara required further medical evaluation after being diagnosed with a concussion.

The extensive damage to the barriers necessitated lengthy repairs, prompting race control to bring the event to an early end. The standings as of lap three were used to determine the final results, relegating Lawson to sixth place.

This outcome is a considerable blow to his championship aspirations, as his main rivals, Ritomo Miyata and teammate Tomoki Nojiro, finished first and second, respectively, widening their lead in the standings.

With 23 points still up for grabs, Lawson is not entirely out of the championship race. However, he faces a challenging task ahead, requiring a stellar performance in the final race and a stroke of luck to turn the tables in his favour.