Liam Lawson Reveals Team Order Disappointment Despite Career-Best Finish

Liam Lawson delivered his best performance of the Formula 1 season at the Monaco Grand Prix, earning an eighth-place finish and picking up his first points of the campaign. Despite this career highlight, Lawson said he left Monte Carlo feeling “a bit disappointed” due to team orders from Racing Bulls that influenced his approach during the race.

The 23-year-old New Zealander started ninth after qualifying but admitted he wished he could have done better in that session as his teammate Isack Hadjar managed to qualify sixth, setting a stronger starting point for the team.

Throughout the 78-lap contest around Monaco’s tight streets, Lawson played the role of rear gunner for Racing Bulls. The team used strategy to their advantage, asking Lawson to control the pace and allow Hadjar to complete both his mandatory pit stops without losing track position.

Lawson described the use of team orders as “perfect” for the squad’s double points result but noted it left him sacrificing his own race to guarantee at least one car inside the points-paying positions.

Lawson explained after the event that the approach turned the race into a smaller contest among the leaders, while those like him found themselves stuck with few chances to gain places. “It’s just more of the guarantee, at least to have one car [in the points],” he told Sky Sports F1.

With Williams attempting a similar strategy, several midfield runners ended up in a similar situation, backing up the field behind a defensive teammate while the leaders pulled away.

A retirement for Fernando Alonso opened the door for Lawson to move up one spot, crossing the finish line eighth after starting ninth. Despite the result, Lawson openly discussed his frustration at being “on the receiving end” of the team’s planned tactics.

He said he wished he had put together a stronger qualifying lap to avoid taking on a support role. Still, he emphasized the positive for the team, with both Racing Bulls cars scoring in the points, which is a clear boost in a tough midfield battle.

Lawson, a former Red Bull reserve driver, continues to build his case for a full-time F1 seat, having shown steady progress through the 2024 season. The Monaco weekend marked a breakthrough, with his points finish coming as the team heads into the last race of the current triple-header.

For Racing Bulls, the result pushed them closer to their direct rivals in the constructors’ standings, where every finish inside the top ten is critical as the season wears on.

With the Spanish Grand Prix set for June 1 at Circuit de Catalunya, eyes will be on Lawson and the Racing Bulls squad to see if they can build on this momentum. The updated team strategies and new two-stop pit rule are expected to play a major role in upcoming races, potentially shaking up the pecking order further.

Racing fans continue to watch Lawson’s progress with interest, especially as he pushes to maximize every opportunity in a challenging midfield.