Lawson secures best F1 finish
Liam Lawson has clinched his best Formula 1 finish after coming eighth at the Monaco Grand Prix.
The result gave the New Zealand driver his first points of the 2025 season and eclipsed his previous equal-best placing of ninth, which he achieved at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix and United States Grand Prix last year and at the Singapore Grand Prix in 2023.
Lawson, pictured, started the race in Monaco on May 26 (NZ time) from ninth on the grid, while his Racing Bulls teammate,
Isack Hadjar, qualified in fifth spot before finishing sixth overall.
“It was a great result for the team, and it’s always nice to come away with points, which isn’t the easiest around Monaco,” says Lawson.
“Having both cars finish in the points was exactly what we needed. 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.”
McLaren’s Lando Norris took the chequered flag at Monaco, finishing ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and teammate Oscar Piastri respectively.
Piastri leads the drivers’ standings with 161 points and is three points ahead of Norris. Defending champion Max Verstappen, who drives for Red Bull, is third on 136.
Lawson picked up four points for his efforts at Monaco and is 17th, while Racing Bulls climbed up to seventh in the teams’ championship.
Laurent Mekies, team principal, says: “What a brilliant result. It’s hugely rewarding to get both cars into the points at one of the toughest races of the year.
“Our performance this weekend has been incredibly encouraging. Monaco is one of the most difficult races to manage from every aspect and everyone at the track, with vital support from those back in the factory, was on top of their game.
“Isack and Liam did not look like they were racing here for the first time in an F1 car and they have been incredible all weekend.
“On a track where the driver really makes the difference, Isack and Liam deserve most of the credit for this result.”
The F1 championship now heads to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix on June 2 and Lawson notes the Racing Bulls team will aim to keep the momentum going at what is a “very different kind of track”.
