Twelfth placed qualifier Liam Lawson is interviewed ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, in Montreal, Quebec.

New Zealand racing driver Liam Lawson is frustrated with his twelfth-place starting spot on the grid for Monday morning's (NZT) Formula One Grand Prix, believing his car was quick enough to qualify higher.

Lawson finished eleventh in the sprint race earlier on Sunday for Racing Bulls - an impressive result given he started at the back of the grid due to major technical problems in practice.

The 24-year-old pulled off seven passes in the 23-lap race to narrowly miss a top-10 finish.

However, it was a top-10 spot on the main race grid that was in his sights, leaving him regretting his inability to follow team-mate Arvid Lindblad into the next tier of qualifiers. Lindblad, who finished eighth in the sprint, qualified ninth fastest for the big race.