Formula 1 result: Liam Lawson completes frustrating Italian Grand Prix as front wing damage ruins Kiwi’s charge

A damaged front wing ruined Liam Lawson’s race in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Photo / Photosport

“It’s a shame. I think we would have come through.”

Red Bull’s decision to change Lawson’s engine, effectively a free hit with Isack Hadjar still out injured, saw the 24-year-old spend his weekend playing catch up, first through practice, then qualifying, before events conspired against him over the course of the 53-laps.

Now, Lawson will hope for at least another race deputising for Hadjar, the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid next week, to show his best for Red Bull, as he looks to secure his place on next season’s grid.

At the front of the pack, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli drove from 19th on the grid, after also changing his engine, to take the chequered flag for his seventh – and arguably his best – win of the season.

The Italian teenager landed another vital blow against teammate George Russell, who finished second, and extended his lead at the top of the world championship to 66 points.

Russell would have every right to feel aggrieved, after leading for most of the race, before a late safety car saw him left on track, while Antonelli was allowed to pit for fresher tyres that ultimately told in the fight for the chequered flag.

Lawson’s Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen was able to cross the line in third, after surprise polesitter Pierre Gasly could only manage seventh, as his Alpine failed to produce the same success over a race distance that it did in qualifying 24 hours earlier.

Meanwhile, in Lawson’s absence, Racing Bulls were able to claim a double points finish through Arvid Lindblad crossing the line eighth and Yuki Tsunoda in 10th, albeit seeing the team’s advantage in the race for fifth in the constructors championship cut to 13 points.

Formula One continues with the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid next weekend, as the second race of a double-header to end the European season.

Starting in the pits left Lawson immune from any chaos heading into the turn one chicane, as the Kiwi was able to make up two places on the first lap, and sat 15th by the end of the third before Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc hit the wall at turn 11 to trigger an early red flag.

After a delay of more than 30 minutes, the restart gave Lawson the chance to make up more places, but contact with Hulkenberg into turn four saw Red Bull need to bring the Kiwi in to change his wing on lap 13.

Liam Lawson drives for Red Bull at the Italian Grand Prix. Photo / Red Bull

Emerging down in 21st, despite having a clear pace advantage over the backmarkers, it took Lawson until lap 20 to catch the drivers in front of him, as the Kiwi’s unlikely charge to a points finish began.

Three more overtakes, getting around both Cadillacs on track as Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso retired from the race, had Lawson back into 17th as the halfway point approached.

A gap of more than 20 seconds to the cars ahead was closed by a virtual safety car on lap 29, triggered when the second Aston Martin, Lance Stroll, stopped on track, but saw the Kiwi on the back foot with his rivals on fresher tyres after pitting.

Lawson managed to reel in two Haas cars of Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman, while Williams’ Alex Albon pitted late to push the Kiwi up another place, as the Kiwi crossed the finish line on a set of tyres that were 41 laps old.

Italian Grand Prix finishing order

Kimi Antonelli – MercedesGeorge Russell – MercedesMax Verstappen – Red BullLando Norris – McLarenOscar Piastri – McLarenLewis Hamilton – FerrariPierre Gasly – AlpineArvid Lindblad – Racing BullsFranco Colapinto – AlpineYuki Tsunoda – Racing BullsGabriel Bortoleto – AudiNico Hulkenberg – AudiCarlos Sainz – WilliamsLiam Lawson – Red BullOllie Bearman – HaasEsteban Ocon – HaasAlex Albon – WilliamsSergio Perez – CadillacValtteri Bottas – Cadillac

Did not finish: Lance Stroll – Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin, Charles Leclerc – Ferrari

Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.