Liam Lawson faced a challenging weekend at the Italian Grand Prix, finishing outside the points at Monza despite showing promising pace. Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar managed to secure a point with a 10th-place finish, highlighting the contrast between the two drivers. Lawson believes there were positives to be taken from the weekend, especially the car’s speed, even though the result did not reflect their potential.
Steady Start Amidst Tough Qualifying Session
The weekend began with promising runs from both Racing Bulls drivers, holding times within a second of Lewis Hamilton’s early benchmark during practice sessions. By FP3, Hadjar had narrowed the gap to less than three-tenths behind the fastest McLaren, signaling competitive pace from the team. However, Lawson’s session took a difficult turn in qualifying. Attempts to adjust his setup did not yield improvements, and in Q1, he encountered dirty air entering the first Lesmo corner, leading to an understeer that pushed him wide. This compromised his lap, resulting in an 18th-place qualifying position, the last of those who posted a timed lap.
Race Day Strategy and Midfield Battle
Starting from the back, Lawson opted for a unique soft-to-hard tyre strategy, the only driver to do so during the race. After his early pit stop, he engaged in a close contest with Oliver Bearman and Yuki Tsunoda, frequently swapping positions throughout the final laps. Ultimately, he finished 14th, while Hadjar recovered from a pit lane start to finish 10th amidst late-race incidents. Despite finishing out of the points, Lawson emphasized that the car had more potential than the final result suggested.
“I don’t think the car was necessarily slow, but compared to the previous week in Zandvoort. But we also had our fair share of issues, which didn’t help us, so it’s probably not as bad as it looks,” Lawson said (via Racing 365).
This marked the second consecutive race where Lawson was unable to score points, following a strong run where he earned points in three of the prior four races.
Controversy with Yuki Tsunoda at the Roggia Chicane
A pivotal moment in Lawson’s race occurred during a wheel-to-wheel battle with Yuki Tsunoda at the Roggia chicane. The two drivers, on different tyre compounds—Lawson on fresh hard tyres and Tsunoda using fresh mediums—came together, their cars making contact as Lawson’s front-left met Tsunoda’s rear-right. This collision resulted in both drivers running off track and caused damage to Tsunoda’s car floor, limiting him to 13th place. The incident sparked frustration from Tsunoda, who voiced his displeasure after the race.
“It’s very frustrating, to be honest. I was fighting for points and… [it was] a very unnecessary move from Lawson. I don’t know what to say… We know that he’s an aggressive driver, and I think it’s not a bad thing, but at the same time there’s always a line that we can’t step over and be beyond. Especially when we’re the same (Red Bull) roof,” Tsunoda said post race.
In response, Lawson defended his actions by highlighting the tight nature of their battle.
“He passed me, I tried to pass him back, and he just squeezed me in the braking zone. We both went off, so I gave the position back, but… I was on the edge of the track, so it was close,” he explained.
The Impact of Past Rivalry and What Lies Ahead
The clash between Lawson and Tsunoda carried added significance due to their shared history. Lawson was Tsunoda’s teammate at Racing Bulls the previous season before Tsunoda was promoted early in 2025 to replace Lawson at Red Bull. Both drivers have faced difficulties navigating their careers within the Red Bull hierarchy, with recent performances underscoring the fine margins in this competitive environment. This incident at Monza highlights the tension that can arise within a driver lineup fighting to prove themselves.
Looking forward, Lawson now sets his sights on the upcoming race in Baku, where he previously celebrated a Formula 2 sprint podium in 2022. With Racing Bulls gradually closing the gap to the midfield pack, Lawson will aim to convert the evident speed he has shown into valuable points and a result that better matches his determination and talent.
