Lawson earns points and praise in strategic Monaco drive

Liam Lawson delivered a strategic drive in Monaco to help Racing Bulls secure its first double points finish of the season, earning his own maiden score of 2025 while frustrating rivals with team-first tactics that paid off handsomely.

His first Q3 appearance of the season put Lawson in prime position for a positive Sunday drive around the streets of Monaco, with the Racing Bulls driver securing himself ninth place on the start grid, four places behind his teammate who had the world at his feet in P5.

Lawson launched on the short run to the first breaking zone with Alex Albon in his mirrors, and it was there that the Williams driver stayed for the entire race as the Kiwi instantly worked to back the pack up while RB deployed infuriating team tactics on their competitors.

Dropping over ten seconds to Esteban Ocon within a matter of laps, he soon headed a frustrated DRS train of both Williams and Mercedes drivers to give Isack Hadjar a crucial 20-second pitstop buffer as the #6 darted into the pitlane on Lap 15 — the first of the top five to pit. 

Five laps later, Lawson’s even slower pace had gifted Hadjar yet another 20-second pit window to his teammate, allowing the Frenchman to complete both of his mandatory pitstops by the end of Lap 20.

Hadjar held position as his rivals clutched at straws to find a way around him, only losing out to Lewis Hamilton as he later took the chequered flag in sixth place, crediting Lawson’s stellar teamwork for his career-high eight-point haul.

“Strategy was perfect,” Hadjar said over team radio. “Big thanks to Liam.”

“I owe him this one, definitely,” the #6 later added on Sky Sports. 

When Lawson was asked to explain the execution of RB’s plan, he joked: “I don’t know what you’re talking about… I was going flat out.”

For the rest of Lawson’s race, the Kiwi circulated the Circuit de Monaco relatively unchallenged as the Williams duo behind worked to employ the same team game over the Mercedes drivers. 

He pulled into the pitlane for his first top of Lap 30, before completing his second stop just nine laps later as he rejoined on the hard tyre in P8 — crucially exiting the pitlane clear of any danger from Williams. 

He remained in eighth place through to the chequered flag, having inherited one position from his starting grid slot due to Fernando Alonso’s Lap 38 retirement at Rascasse. 

“The strategy made sense for us today, with both cars qualifying well and showing strong pace throughout the weekend,” the Kiwi said.

“The two-stop format didn’t make a huge difference for us, it can create more opportunities but today’s race played out fairly straightforwardly. 

“The pace has been there for a few races now, so it was good to show it this weekend.”

This was Lawson’s first points finish of the season, with the Kiwi finally promoting himself from the bottom of the WDC standings into P17 as he contributed four points to RB’s total of 22 points.

“It was a great result for the team, and it’s always nice to come away with points, which isn’t the easiest around Monaco,” Lawson said. 

“Having both cars finish in the points was exactly what we needed. 

“Everything came together nicely this weekend, and we executed the race perfectly.”

Lawson added” “Looking ahead to Barcelona, we’ll aim to keep the momentum going.”

“It’s a very different kind of track, and we will need to get on top of the regulation changes, we will need to adapt as quickly as possible.”

Racing in Barcelona for the first time since his days in Formula 2, Lawson will have to put the high of his first points finish of the season on the back burner as the Spanish Grand Prix weekend kicks off in just a few days’ time.

Racing Bulls Team Principal Laurent Mekies was over the moon following Hadjar and Lawson’s “brilliant result” in Monaco, praising his two rookie drivers who navigated the constricting streets as if they were seasoned professionals.

“It’s hugely rewarding to get both cars into the points at one of the toughest races of the year,” Mekies said. 

“Our performance this weekend has been incredibly encouraging. 

“Monaco is one of the most difficult races to manage from every aspect and everyone at the track, with vital support from those back in the factory, was on top of their game.

“Isack and Liam did not look like they were racing here for the first time in an F1 car and they have been incredible all weekend. 

“Nothing came easily, and everyone had a very intense weekend to improve the car throughout the sessions. 

“Ultimately it allowed us to put both our cars in Q3 yesterday. 

“On a track where the driver really makes the difference, Isack and Liam deserve most of the credit for this result, and with the help of a great race strategy and teamwork from Liam, we got 12 more precious points. 

“Our car is improving and now we go to Barcelona determined to keep fighting at the front of the midfield.”

Carrying momentum into the Spanish Grand Prix, Round 9’s regulation changes could see the order turned on its head as a new technical directive banning any kind of wing flexing comes into play from this weekend onwards, forcing teams to adapt or risk being left behind in a season where every point may count come Abu Dhabi.

The first session of the Spanish Grand Prix, Free Practice 1, will kick off at 21:30 AEST on Friday as the final race of the triple-header commences.

Image: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.

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