Lawson Holds Firm as Monaco Strategy Sparks Debate—And Tsunoda Fumbles Again

Liam Lawson says his confidence never wavered—despite being demoted from Red Bull, despite weeks of inconsistent results, and despite executing what some critics labelled a “cynical” strategy at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Back in the points for just the second time in seven races since returning to the rebranded Racing Bulls squad, Lawson produced a calm and calculated drive to ninth in Monte Carlo, banking a solid result in one of the sport’s most processional races. He was quick to defend the team’s controversial tactics, which involved sacrificing track position early in order to build clear air—saying it was “a very positive race” that exploited Monaco’s unique layout.

“We did nothing illegal,” Lawson said. “It’s not on us—Monaco’s just like that. You can’t pull that off in Barcelona or anywhere else.”

Still, Lawson acknowledged the limitations of his qualifying effort and the very real risk of finishing outside the top 10, admitting he was “more disappointed after quali than anything” as it put him in a defensive strategy from the outset.

Despite the scrutiny, the Kiwi’s calm demeanour and consistent pace are slowly shifting attention away from his earlier struggles and back towards his potential. A career best of eighth in Monaco result reaffirmed why Racing Bulls turned to him in the first place.

It also puts the spotlight on his predecessor—and rival—Yuki Tsunoda, who remains under pressure with a season’s best result of ninth in Bahrain. Tsunoda has shown flashes of speed this season, but continues to be erratic under pressure and has been involved in more crashes in the past two seasons at Red Bull-affiliated teams than any other driver on the grid.

While Lawson downplayed comparisons, noting that “if anybody else struggles in that car, it doesn’t affect me,” the numbers don’t lie. Tsunoda’s tally of Q1 crashes and incidents—particularly during stints with the senior team—has continued to mount, raising further questions about whether Red Bull made the right call in sidelining Lawson in the first place.

“I never really got the chance to show what I was capable of in a Red Bull,” Lawson said. “So I’m just focused on doing the best job in the car I’m in.”

He also offered insight into the ongoing tyre compound debate, saying the new C6 “isn’t that much of a shift” from the C5, though acknowledged that some teams are more aggressive in quali. “We haven’t been brave enough to do that yet,” he said, adding that his team felt more “comfortable” on the C6, especially in Monaco.

As the season continues, Lawson is clearly eager to re-establish himself—not just as a dependable mid-field points scorer, but as a serious long-term contender in the Red Bull system.

Christian Horner and Helmut Marko may still be pushing the narrative that Lawson “needs to rebuild confidence,” but as the 22-year-old calmly put it: “That’s not my story.”

Image: Red Bull Content Pool

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