Late Monaco GP drama as Liam Lawson issue forces Racing Bulls into action

Racing Bulls mechanics raced against the clock to resolve a technical issue on Liam Lawson's car less than an hour before the Monaco Grand Prix. The Kiwi, set to start 10th, climbed into his VCARB03 as the pit lane opened following swift repairs.

Why it matters:

Lawson has scored points three times in 2026, including seventh-place finishes in China and Canada. Losing a strong grid slot at Monaco due to a pre-race failure would have destroyed his momentum and hurt Racing Bulls' constructors' hopes. The scare also highlights the ongoing reliability pressure teams face under the new regulations.

The details:

• A technical issue surfaced roughly 60 minutes before the 1400 local time start, forcing urgent work in the garage with ES tape visible around the car.
• The problem was rectified before the pit lane opened, with Lawson thanking the team over the radio: "Well done, everybody. Very, very good job. I will try my best today to make it worth it."
• Pre-race dramas have repeatedly hit the 2026 grid. Nico Hulkenberg missed the Australian season opener, while Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Gabriel Bortoleto and Alex Albon all failed to start in Shanghai.
• Teammate Arvid Lindblad also suffered a DNS in Canada, making this Monaco recovery especially critical for the team.

What's next:

Lawson will start 10th on a circuit where overtaking is nearly impossible, so a clean race is essential. Another points finish would help Racing Bulls distance itself from the reliability nightmares that have defined the opening races of this new regulatory era.