Lawson Optimistic Despite Challenging Italian Grand Prix

Liam Lawson encountered a difficult Italian Grand Prix weekend at Monza, finishing 14th without points. Despite the disappointing result, the New Zealander remains optimistic about the upcoming race in Baku, believing the team's performance was not as poor as it appeared.

Why it matters:

Lawson's second consecutive non-points finish highlights the challenges faced by the team, especially after a promising showing in Zandvoort. His ability to maintain a positive outlook and identify areas for improvement is crucial for momentum as the season progresses.

The Details:

Lawson's Monza weekend, only his second F1 outing at the historic low-downforce circuit, was plagued with issues:

• Practice struggles: Setup changes during Friday practice did not go as planned, leading to a 17th-place finish.
• Qualifying setback: Dirty air and an understeer moment through the first Lesmo corner left him starting 18th on the grid.
• Race strategy gamble: A bold alternate strategy aimed at gaining positions ultimately failed to pay off, as he got stuck behind cars on fresh tires.

Lawson expressed frustration with the race, stating, "We were close, but a few cars came out ahead of us on fresh tyres, and we got stuck behind them, which was really frustrating." He also acknowledged personal shortcomings: "On my side, we didn’t quite maximise the weekend."

He noted Monza's unique low-downforce characteristics made the car less competitive than in Zandvoort, and that his weekend was "complicated by a clash with Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda," which Tsunoda claimed caused significant damage.

What's next:

Lawson is looking ahead to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku with optimism. The Baku City Circuit, known for its mix of tight sections and long straights, is a track he is familiar with, having achieved an F2 podium there in 2022.

“We’ll run the simulations and try and come up with the best balance we can, and then see how the car is there,” Lawson said, hoping to improve upon the team's tough performance at the circuit last year.