Liam Lawson Reveals Unexpected Challenge in Monaco F1 Experiment

Liam Lawson opened up about his challenging experience at the Monaco Grand Prix, where the newly introduced two-stop rule created an unusual scenario on the iconic street circuit. For the first time in Monaco history, every Formula 1 driver had to make two pit stops during the race, a decision made by F1 and the FIA to add excitement.

This change, however, led to teams using uncommon strategies, where some drivers purposefully slowed their pace to help teammates make their stops without losing too many positions on track. Lawson and his Racing Bulls team executed this plan smoothly, which allowed teammate Isack Hadjar to cross the line in sixth place.

Lawson took eighth and secured his first points of the season, but he revealed that the tactics required more mental focus than he expected. After the race, the 23-year-old New Zealander explained that driving so slowly for long periods was “a lot more difficult than I expected from a concentration point.”

While it made strategic sense for the team, Lawson said it was rare for a plan to work out as cleanly as it did this time, even though it came with its own set of difficulties. He sacrificed his own race pace to benefit Hadjar, admitting that qualifying performance had sealed his fate and limited his chances for a better finish.

Lawson qualified in eighth, where he ultimately finished. He said passing in Monaco is tough regardless of strategy, so the end result did not come as a surprise.

Lawson’s strong pace over the weekend showed some improvement compared to the start of his season, but he stayed honest when asked if he felt his earlier struggles were behind him. While happy to score points, Lawson was quick to say he always wants to finish higher, and that the weekend was a positive step rather than a breakthrough.

The new two-stop rule saw many drivers adopt farcical tactics, with slow laps and careful orchestrations in the pit lane. While Racing Bulls benefited from the approach, some fans and insiders called for changes to the regulations, arguing that such plans take away from real on-track battles. This led to what many described as a farcical race.

Elsewhere in the standings, McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris remained at the top after the Monaco event, with 161 and 158 points respectively. Max Verstappen followed in third place for Red Bull with 136 points, while George Russell had 99 points for Mercedes.

Ferrari’s drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, held 79 and 63 points. The team championship also reflected McLaren’s strong form, as they led with 319 points, followed by Mercedes and Red Bull.

The next race on the F1 calendar will be in Spain on June 1, with upcoming stops in Canada, Austria, and Great Britain scheduled for June and July. The Monaco Grand Prix’s experimental rule highlighted how even small changes can have big effects on driver routines and race outcomes.

Lawson’s reflections showed the mental demands of adapting to these changes, especially on a famously tight and challenging circuit. The conversation about how to make Monaco more competitive will likely continue, especially as drivers and teams adapt to new ideas for racing in the narrow streets of Monte Carlo. For further insights on Monaco’s unique challenges, you can explore Motorsport Magazine’s analysis.

For Lawson, the recent result offered a much-needed confidence boost and a clear reminder that even well-executed plans can come with unexpected challenges. To learn more about driver psychology in motorsports, check out this Stanford University study on performance under pressure.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.