Racing Bulls impress under new regulations for the Monaco Grand Prix

Photo Credit: XPB Images

Formula 1 fans didn’t know what to expect going into Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix. Usually a boring race that tends to be won by whoever finishes pole in qualifying the day before, the International Automobile Federation introduced new regulations, trying to make this year’s race more entertaining. However, when the checkered flag waved after 78 laps, the outcome was not much different from what we’ve come to expect.

To make the Monaco Grand Prix more interesting for the viewers, the FIA introduced a mandatory two-stop regulation, meaning each driver would have to pit to change tires twice during the race or else they would be disqualified. Because of how short the track is, drivers tend to make only one pit stop during the Monaco Grand Prix. The rule was intended to incorporate new strategies and a staggered race result that wasn’t eerily similar or identical to how the drivers initially started the race.

However, nine of the 10 drivers who made it to the third and final qualifying session on Saturday finished in the Top 10. Fernando Alonso, who qualified seventh and started the race sixth after a grid penalty to Lewis Hamilton, was the only driver who started in the Top 10 to not finish the race due to a mechanical issue. The Top 3 finished in the same positions they started the race in, with McLaren’s Lando Norris winning the Grand Prix after setting a track record qualifying time in Q3 less than 24 hours before.

It was clear that, despite new strategies being used by each team, the two-stop rule didn’t improve the product on track. Many drivers and team principals agreed that changes need to be made to the circuit to allow for more passing and dynamic racing. There was just one legal overtake in 78 laps at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix. It would be tough to make changes to a 94-year-old street circuit that is meant for the small cars of Monaco and not the growing F1 chassis, but it might be the only way to save one of the sport’s most historic Grand Prix.

“I think everything has to move with the times ultimately, it’s an iconic and historic circuit, but if you look at how Monaco has changed, how much land they’ve reclaimed into the sea in the 72 appearances here, I don’t think you’d need to do too much,” said Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal. “There just needs to be one area where you can have an overtake, and everybody knows that coming here.”

“We definitely need to have a real think about what the solution is here in Monaco,” said George Russell, who finished one place out of the points for Mercedes. “I appreciate trying something this year for two stops, but clearly it did not work at all.”

There was one team that benefited greatly from the new two-stop regulation, which may or may not be used next year.

For the first time this season, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls had both of their cars finish in the points. Rookie Isack Hadjar finished sixth, his best result in seven career F1 races, while 23-year-old Liam Lawson finished eighth, collecting his first points of the season and his best race result in 19 career F1 starts.

The strategy used by the team worked to perfection, with Hadjar benefiting in the first half of the race and Lawson in the second half. During the first 20 laps, Lawson backed up the pack, allowing his teammate to build a substantial gap just two places in front of him. Lawson wasn’t at risk of losing track position, like he would in most other races, because it is nearly impossible to pass around the famous circuit. The gap allowed Hadjar to pit on Laps 14 and 19, completing his mandatory pit stops with 58 laps left. The rookie only lost one position to Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton during his two quick stops. Lawson made pit stops on Laps 31 and 40, maintaining track position on the cars around him thanks to his team’s strategy.

"Liam helped me massively, it was great teamwork, and also he helped me, but he also got points, so I'm really happy for him,” said Isack Hadjar after the race.

“I’m very, very happy for everyone,” said Liam Lawson. “It was a good race, very straightforward from our side. It’s not often you have a plan and you execute it perfectly. We were able to do that today. For our fight in the midfield, it’s very important.”

Strong performances by both drivers in qualifying set the team up for a successful race. Hadjar qualified sixth, but started a career-best fifth thanks to Hamilton’s three-place grid penalty. Lawson made it to Q3 for the first time this season, qualifying ninth, starting eighth, and finishing the race in the same position.

It has been a tough year for Lawson, who originally started as the second driver at Red Bull behind reigning world champion Max Verstappen. Lawson was sent down to Red Bull’s junior team, Racing Bulls, after just two races, and was replaced by Yuki Tsunoda. Lawson’s two-race stint with Red Bull was the shortest in team history. The transition back to Racing Bulls hasn’t been easy for the New Zealander. His best finish before the Monaco Grand Prix was 12th in Saudi Arabia, which was followed by a DNF (Did Not Finish) in Miami.

“It’s great to score points, but obviously I’m wanting to finish higher,” Lawson said. “It’s a good step that we made this weekend, but I think we’re always looking for more.”

Racing Bulls find themselves in seventh in the World Constructors’ Championship with 22 points, four points off Haas in sixth. In his rookie season, Hadjar has propelled Racing Bulls to a strong midfield position. After crashing out of his first career race on the formation lap in Australia, Hadjar has been a man on a mission. The rookie has finished in the points in three out of the last four races, and is the second rookie, only behind Kimi Antonelli, in the driver standings with 15 points.

Hadjar, Lawson, and Racing Bulls will look to replicate their smart strategy and double-points finish in Monaco this weekend for the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.