RB's New Zealand driver Liam Lawson. Photo: GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP
New Zealand driver Liam Lawson certainly earned himself some brownie points with his team in the Monaco Grand Prix, rewarded with his first points of the Formula 1 season.
Lawson finished eighth at the principality, but sacrificed the possibility of a higher result by following Racing Bulls team strategy.
"It's not often you have a plan and you execute it perfectly." Lawson said afterwards.
With this year's Monaco GP having a mandatory two pit stops, the question was how would teams play that out on a course where overtaking is difficult.
Racing Bulls played it perfectly after having both cars qualify in the top 10. Isack Hadjar started fifth and Lawson ninth.
Lawson played the role of blocker for the first third of the race, slowing the cars behind him to allow his teammate to get far enough ahead that he could pit twice and not lose any places.
But the best part was Lawson was still able to maintain his position during pitting and grab those valuable first points.
"It was a great result for the team, and it's always nice to come away with points," Lawson said.
"Everything came together nicely this weekend, and we executed the race perfectly. The pace has been there for a few races now, so it was good to show it this weekend."
Liam Lawson of New Zealand at the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix. Photo: ALESSIO MORGESE / AFP
Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies described it as a brilliant result.
"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."
This result will be a big boost for Lawson and the team, and with the monkey off his back with his first points, it should give him the confidence to challenge for more.
The 23-year-old is now 17th in the drivers' standings with four points, while Racing Bulls climbed to seventh in the constructors' championship.
The important thing was the car was faster than it had been this season.
"Our car is improving and now we go to Barcelona determined to keep fighting at the front of the midfield," Mekies said.
Lawson was also excited about Barcelona next weekend, where there were a few changes for teams with stewards being stricter on the flexibility of each car's front wings.
"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."
What Lawson showed Monday will go a long way in enhancing his place in Formula 1
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