While the Monaco Grand Prix will be remembered for its penalties, controversy and post-race debates, there were also plenty of reasons to celebrate in the paddock. Alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s dominant victory, one of the biggest surprises of the weekend came from Racing Bulls, which secured a remarkable double points finish with Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad.
The Faenza-based team enjoyed one of its strongest performances of the season, with both drivers achieving the best Formula 1 results of their careers. In a race where strategy, consistency and avoiding mistakes were crucial, Racing Bulls executed its weekend almost perfectly.
Liam Lawson returns to the top five
Liam Lawson matched the fifth-place finish he achieved last year on another street circuit, Baku, delivering an impressive drive through the streets of Monte Carlo. The New Zealander played a key role in Racing Bulls’ success and was delighted with the outcome after a challenging start to the weekend.
“I’m really, really happy,” Liam Lawson said after the race. “It’s a great result for the team to finish fifth and sixth, especially considering where we were at the start of the weekend. Races can seem pretty unpredictable at the moment, with several cars being forced to retire, so it’s important to make the most of those moments when they come along.”
The Racing Bulls driver also praised the efforts of the entire team, highlighting the work that went into producing a competitive package for race day.
“Honestly, I enjoyed the race so much. The team worked incredibly hard to give us a fast car today, so I’m really grateful to be able to finish the weekend on such a high note,” he added.
The result marks another important step forward for Liam Lawson, who continues to establish himself as one of the most consistent performers in the midfield battle. Matching his career-best Formula 1 finish in Monaco was further evidence of his growing confidence and maturity behind the wheel.
Arvid Lindblad exceeds expectations
While Liam Lawson secured a place inside the top five, rookie sensation Arvid Lindblad crossed the finish line immediately behind his teammate in sixth position. In doing so, he improved on the eighth-place finish he achieved on his Formula 1 debut in Australia earlier this season.
For the young driver, the result was far beyond what he expected after qualifying and represented another major milestone in his impressive rookie campaign: “I’m incredibly happy with the result,” Arvid Lindblad explained. “It went beyond all my expectations after Saturday, so a huge thank you to everyone here at the track and also to the teams in Faenza and Milton Keynes. They did a phenomenal job, and for us to come away with a double points finish is an extraordinary result.”
Arvid Lindblad revealed that the opening phase of the race was particularly demanding, with tyre management becoming the main priority while running in traffic for much of the first stint.
“The first stint felt incredibly long. I spent most of it in traffic and focused on managing the tyres as well as possible. We were able to take advantage of the red flag, which turned out to be a huge opportunity, and in the end the restart was probably the most important part of the race for us.”
The British-Swedish driver then focused on keeping the car out of trouble during the closing laps, knowing that a strong result was within reach: “From that point on, I was only focused on avoiding mistakes and bringing the car home during the final laps. Now all my attention turns to Barcelona, a circuit I’ve always enjoyed and one that I’m really looking forward to racing on,” he concluded.
A breakthrough result for Racing Bulls
Monaco represented a significant breakthrough for Racing Bulls. Not only did the team leave the Principality with a valuable haul of championship points, but it also demonstrated impressive operational execution throughout a demanding and unpredictable race.
With Liam Lawson finishing fifth and Arvid Lindblad securing sixth place, Racing Bulls achieved one of its strongest results in recent years and sent a clear message to its midfield rivals. If the team can maintain this level of performance heading into Barcelona and the upcoming races, Monaco could be remembered as the weekend that marked the beginning of a new phase of momentum for the Faenza-based outfit.
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