Liam Lawson joins Alex Albon in Canada Sprint qualifying absence

Liam Lawson will not take part in Sprint qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix due to damage from a hydraulics issue that stopped his car in practice, joining Alex Albon who is also absent after a crash. The field is now reduced to 18 cars for the session.

Why it matters:

Missing Sprint qualifying severely limits both drivers' chances for the Sprint race, forcing them to start from the back. For Racing Bulls, Lawson's absence also means lost track time and data ahead of main qualifying and the race – a blow to their weekend momentum.

The Details:

• Lawson ground to a halt early in practice after a hydraulic failure caused loss of power steering. Recovery took time, delaying diagnosis and repair.
• Before Sprint qualifying, his car was still in pieces without a power unit or gearbox attached, making it impossible to participate.
• Albon's crash came after he ran over a marmot on track, heavily damaging his Williams and preventing him from setting a time.
• With both drivers out, only 18 cars will take part in Sprint qualifying, though this does not affect the fight for pole.

What's next:

Both Lawson and Albon will start at the back of the grid for the Sprint race later today. All focus now shifts to the main Grand Prix qualifying session on Saturday afternoon, which will set the grid for Sunday's race.