Lawson Assesses Challenging Italian GP: 'Not As Bad As It Looks'

Liam Lawson insists his difficult Italian Grand Prix weekend was 'not as bad as it looks,' despite a string of issues that saw him finish 14th at Monza. The Racing Bulls driver pointed to the circuit's unique low-downforce demands and various car problems as key factors in his performance.

Why it matters:

Lawson, who was deputizing for Daniel Ricciardo, is trying to establish his place in F1. A seemingly poor result could be misinterpreted without proper context, and his assessment offers crucial insight into the team's challenges at specific tracks.

The details:

• Practice Struggles: Lawson finished 17th quickest on Friday after setup changes to his Racing Bulls 'didn't go as planned.'
• Qualifying Error: He started 18th after an understeer mistake in the first Lesmo, which he attributed to dirty air from a car ahead.
• Race Performance: Lawson managed to gain only four positions by the checkered flag, crossing the line in P14.
• Car Characteristics: Lawson noted that Monza's 'very low downforce' nature did not suit the car's core strengths as effectively as Zandvoort. He added, "we also had our fair share of issues, which didn't help us."

What's next:

Lawson's next challenge is the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku Street Circuit, a track he knows from his F2 days, where he scored a sprint podium in 2022.

• Baku's Demands: The circuit also requires a low-downforce setup, though less extreme than Monza, which Lawson believes could benefit the car more.
• Team Hopes: Despite a tough race for the team in Baku last year, Lawson is optimistic that the car's recent performance trends will lead to a stronger weekend there. He hopes for a good balance from simulations.