Liam Lawson Faces Crucial F1 Grid Penalty Battle

Liam Lawson faces a tense situation as he moves closer to a Formula 1 grid penalty this season. The Racing Bulls driver arrived at the Canadian Grand Prix with several changes to his car’s engine components.

During the weekend, Lawson received his fourth and final legal internal combustion engine, turbocharger, and motor generator unit-heat. Each of these components is limited by strict season rules, and any additional replacements will mean a penalty on the starting grid.

Lawson also got a new exhaust system, but that is still within the allowed number, as it is his fourth out of a limit of eight. His engine pool situation means he will have to complete the rest of the season without needing any more replacements if he hopes to avoid a setback.

In Formula 1, engine reliability can be a big challenge, especially as the season progresses and parts wear down. If any one of his engine, turbo, or MGU-H units fail or need changing again, a penalty will follow, pushing him further back at the start of a race.

The Canadian Grand Prix saw other teams making engine changes as well. Both Mercedes drivers, George Russell and newcomer Kimi Antonelli, received updates to every element of their power units.

Antonelli had to retire from the previous race in Spain due to a power unit failure, leading the team to install brand new components for him. That included a new engine, turbocharger, both kinetic and heat motor generator units, and an exhaust.

Russell received an identical set of new parts to match Antonelli’s upgrades. Fernando Alonso was also among the drivers who got significant new engine components.

His Aston Martin team fitted a new set of parts for each engine element in his car ahead of the Canadian weekend. However, Alonso, Antonelli, and Russell are still inside their legal allocation for engine parts this season.

None of the three currently faces the same grid penalty threat as Lawson does. Racing Bulls, with Lawson and teammate Isack Hadjar, have collected 28 points so far in the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Their performances and reliability will be key as the points battle continues deep into the year. With Formula 1 strict on engine component counts, teams are keeping a close eye on how many parts each driver uses, since penalties can have a big impact on championship standings.

Lawson and his team will be hoping for reliability and some good fortune as the races continue. With limits already reached on several engine components, the chance of a grid penalty looms large if any more replacements are needed.

The next rounds of the calendar include stops in Austria, Britain, and Belgium, where engines are put to the test under tough conditions. As the season heads toward some of its most challenging circuits, everyone in the Racing Bulls garage knows that keeping Lawson penalty-free could make a real difference in their final championship results.

The team faces a tough stretch, and how they manage these mechanical limits could shape their year.

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.