Liam Lawson Achieves Fifth Place Finish in Dramatic Baku Race

Liam Lawson finished fifth in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, marking his best result in Formula 1 to date. The 23-year-old driver from New Zealand improved upon his previous performance in Austria, where he placed sixth. Lawson’s impressive journey began with a stunning third-place qualification on Saturday, but during the race on Sunday, he faced significant challenges from faster competitors.

Despite a strong start, Lawson struggled to maintain his position against the more powerful cars behind him. The Mercedes duo of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli quickly advanced, while Lawson showcased resilience by holding off Red Bull rival Yuki Tsunoda, who ultimately finished in sixth place. Crossing the finish line left Lawson exhausted but satisfied with his performance.

“The race felt rewarding, particularly after the last ten to fifteen laps, which was pretty intense,” Lawson reflected. “Obviously, it’s a little disappointing from where we were starting, but realistically we didn’t have the speed to fight with the guys in front today, despite always being hopeful.”

Team Principal Praises Lawson’s Performance

Alan Permane, Team Principal of Racing Bulls, expressed pride in Lawson’s ability to fend off challengers without the benefit of Drag Reduction System (DRS). He noted that Lawson effectively managed his battery usage, allowing him to gain extra speed on the straights and keep faster competitors at bay.

“They were faster in lap time, and the key to Liam staying in front was using his battery, using his electrical energy very, very well,” Permane said. “He was conserving it through the lap and then releasing it on the straight, giving him a little bit extra straight-line speed, and they couldn’t get past him. Fantastic drive by him; he put together 20 perfect laps towards the end.”

Engineered to perfection, Lawson’s performance drew high praise from his engineer, Ernesto Desiderio, who referred to the drive as a “masterclass” over the team radio.

With his fifth-place finish, Lawson secured ten points, elevating him to 13th in the Drivers’ Championship standings with a total of 30 points. He now shares the same points as Fernando Alonso and is just two points behind 11th-placed Lance Stroll.

Looking Ahead to Singapore

Lawson has consistently supported his Racing Bulls team since joining for round three of the season, and he acknowledged their efforts in helping him achieve this result. “To have a P5 is big for us, especially in the Championship right now,” he stated. “We’ve had a good car all weekend thanks to the team, so I’m pleased to be coming home with points. We gave it everything!”

The next race will take place in Singapore in two weeks, and Lawson remains optimistic about the upcoming challenges. Permane shared his enthusiasm for the future, saying, “We’re going armed into Singapore with bags of confidence, and we can really relish in the last third of the season.”

In a sobering contrast, Lawson’s McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, crashed on the opening lap in Baku, resulting in a reduction of his championship lead over teammate Lando Norris to 25 points. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who has secured victory in the last two races, now trails Norris by 44 points.