Liam Lawson finished this evening’s Super Formula race in fifth after crossing the line third but having a five-second penalty added to his time post-race.
The penalty came as a result of a Safety Car infringement which occurred on Lap 10 as the field all came into pit. Ultimately, it was deemed Lawson didn’t maintain a suitable distance to the car ahead under caution as he dropped back to allow for a double stack for Team Mugen.
In the end, it was Lawson’s teammate, Tomoki Nojiri, who won the race over Sho Tsuboi, Kenta Yamashita the benefactor of the Kiwi’s penalty to be elevated to the podium.
The signs are still extremely promising for the Kiwi who leaves Fuji second in the standings having shown strong pace and adaptability as he quickly gets up to speed with the series.
Today there were curve balls at the Red Bull reserve driver, beginning right at the start when he bogged down to lose two spots into Turn 1.
Toshiki Oyo took the lead off pole-sitter Nijiri. Oyu was able to hold his authority over the first lap but unable to put a gap over the pack, keeping everyone in touching distance as they fell into file.
A tame few laps were to follow until Lawson was able to move up to fifth at Turn 1 on Lap 7, following an excellent slipstream down Fuji’s 1.475km long pit-straight.
The next lap saw a Safety Car required after Giuliano Alesi was spun and stalling at the exit of Turn 1, the Frenchman’s miserable weekend continuing after a Race 1 DNF.
The pit window opened at the conclusion of Lap 10, with the field still trailing the Safety Car. This saw the entire field, bar one, enter the lane for their stops.
Nojiri was the first to emerge from the lane to take the net lead; Oyu was forced to be held to allow the procession to pass. Team Mugen’s box at the end of the lane worked in their favour, giving them the lead and seeing Lawson lose only one position due to the double stack.
It took Lawson less than a lap to regain the position he lost in the lane, the Kiwi then going about hunting down Kenta Yamashita for fifth place, with the leader Ryo Hirakawa still needing to stop.
Hirakawa had built a gap over the pack, which allowed Nojiri to pull clear from those who had pitted, the defending champion needing no invitation to do so.
Lap 22 was when Lawson gained another spot, the Kiwi passing Yamashita at the end of the straight and into Turn 1.
A podium was now in sight for Lawson, Oyu close in front, but Yamashita and Ritomo Miyata were keeping the pressure on behind. He didn’t even need the full straight to get past Oyu on lap 24, the Honda-powered Mugen now up to fourth overall with Hirakawa still yet to stop.
A massive five-second gap had been built over the rest of the pack by Nojiri and Tsuboi, Lawson quickly getting to work and going about reducing this.
The Kiwi’s lap times at this point were rapid, the gap reducing each lap significantly as the #15 charged forward.
News came through at this point of a 5-second penalty for Lawson, an infringement behind the Safety Car the reason after the Kiwi had built a gap to the cars ahead coming into the lane to allow for a smooth double stack for Team Mugen.
He’d built a 3.5-second gap over Yamashita but had caught a fading Tsuboi in second, limiting the gains he was able to make.
Needing to get around Tsuboi’s Toyota quickly, Lawson unsuccessfully attempted a move at the start on Lap 36 and again on Lap 39. Tsuboi’s stubborn defence held firm, bringing Yamashita and Miyata well within 5-seconds of the Kiwi.
Ultimately, once Hirakawa made his stop it was Nojiri who came through for the win over Tsuboi, Lawson crossing the line third but relegated to fifth once his penalty had been applied.
Yamashita was the benefactor of this, elevated to the podium while Miyata took fourth.
Lawson still receives 6 championship points for his efforts, leaving Fuji second in the standings and 14 points behind his teammate.
Super Formula next returns at Suzuka for a sole race on April 23.
