Racing Bulls Explains Decision Against Team Orders for Lawson

Liam Lawson delivered a standout performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, crossing the finish line in fifth place, just six-tenths of a second ahead of his Racing Bulls teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Despite Tsunoda being on fresher tires and a DRS train including Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton closing in, Racing Bulls opted against issuing team orders, allowing Lawson to hold his position.

Why it matters:

Racing Bulls’ decision to let Lawson and Tsunoda race highlights a team philosophy that values individual performance and competitive racing, even under high pressure. This approach can be crucial for driver development and team morale, demonstrating trust in their drivers' abilities to manage race situations.

The Details:

• No Team Orders: Racing Bulls Sporting Director Alan Permane confirmed there were no team orders, stating, “We weren’t going to let him through, of course. Liam did a great job keeping behind a faster car.”
• Lawson's Defense: Permane praised Lawson's mental toughness and perfect driving, noting that Liam “did a great job holding him off with elbows out.”
• Intense Final Laps: Lawson described the final laps as intense, focusing on defending his position without knowing his exact standing until he crossed the line. He emphasized taking “a bit more risk to keep it there.”
• Career-Best Start and Finish: Lawson started from a career-best third on the grid following a chaotic qualifying session. He ultimately secured a fifth-place finish, his best-ever result in Formula 1.
• Race Dynamics: During the race, George Russell moved ahead of Lawson during pit stops, and Kimi Antonelli overtook him on track. However, Lawson successfully fended off Tsunoda and the pursuing pack.
• Championship Impact: Lawson acknowledged that while the car lacked the speed to fight the very front runners, a P5 finish is “big for us, especially in the Championship right now.”

Looking Ahead:

Lawson is keen to maintain the consistency that led to his strong Baku weekend as the F1 calendar moves to circuits where he has prior experience. This consistency, coupled with the car's adaptable performance across different tracks, provides a positive outlook for Racing Bulls.

• Lawson highlighted the car's “consistently good across the board at all sorts of different tracks” as a very positive sign.
• The team aims to “keep that consistency and try to find a little more where we’re fighting for very good results.”
• Despite not having the pace to challenge Williams in Baku, Lawson believes that consistently securing results like P5 will be “very strong for us” going forward.