Liam Lawson pulled out the stops in Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix to secure a career-best fifth place finish, but the Racing Bulls charger was forced to fend off a late challenge by his Red Bull sibling Yuki Tsunoda.
Lawson, starting from the second row, converted his strong qualifying into a standout performance on the streets of Baku, but admitted post-race that he braced for a fiercer fight from Tsunoda much earlier than it materialized.
Lawson’s race was a masterclass in defensive driving, as he held off not only Tsunoda but also McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, all of whom loomed large in his mirrors with DRS advantage in the closing stages.
The 23-year-old’s composure under pressure was flawless, especially after a mid-race scare when Kimi Antonelli slipped past him. Learning from that moment, Lawson ensured his battery deployment was spot-on to protect his position down Baku’s long pit straight.
Tsunoda’s Threat Looms Large
Reflecting on his milestone achievement, Lawson revealed his expectation of an earlier onslaught from Tsunoda, who emerged from the pits on lap 38 of 51 on fresher medium tyres compared to Lawson’s older harder compound.
“I mean, for sure, [Tsunoda] is on a fresh set of tyres, on a medium, on a grippier tyre and, honestly, I was preparing for him to end up catching me quicker, and I expected them to be faster,” Lawson said after the race.
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“Obviously, looking at Max today, they had a great race, and the car looks good. So I think when I saw him come out on a better tyre, I was expecting him to catch me faster, but I think our sector three was extremely strong this weekend, it’s where it needed to be.
“To that mistake with Kimi, I made sure that I never ran out of energy again.”
Lawson’s strategic use of his battery and a particularly strong sector three performance allowed him to maintain the gap to Tsunoda.
The Racing Bulls driver capitalized on a critical overtake into Turn 3 after Tsunoda’s pit stop, leveraging his warmer tyres to seize the position and hold it to the checkered flag.
A Defining Moment for Lawson
The Kiwi’s fifth-place finish was not just a personal triumph but a statement of intent, as he outperformed his Red Bull-backed rival in a race that showcased his defensive prowess and strategic acumen.
His ability to keep Tsunoda, Norris, and Hamilton at bay underscored Racing Bulls’ competitive edge in Baku, particularly in the crucial final sector.
“To have a P5 is big for us, especially in the championship right now,” Lawson said. “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!”
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