Liam Lawson Faces Uncertainty After Monaco Penalties Review

Liam Lawson's fifth-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix is under review due to a possible error by officials.

What happened?

The review was prompted by a petition from Alpine, the team of Pierre Gasly, who was demoted to seventh after two five-second penalties. Gasly had been recorded doing 60.1 and 60.4km/h when the limit was 60km/h.

Why it matters for Liam Lawson

Lawson was promoted to fifth after Gasly's demotion, but the review could lead to a reinstatement of Gasly's original position. This would put Lawson's result in doubt, potentially affecting his standings.

What comes next?

The stewards have accepted Alpine's petition for review, citing a significant and new element that was previously unavailable. The review will proceed to a second hearing, with eight of the 11 teams requesting to attend the virtual hearing. And the final decision remains pending, leaving Lawson's result uncertain. Lawson's finish was a result of the penalties applied to Gasly, who had finished third on the road. But the review has opened up the possibility of reinstatement, which could impact Lawson's position. The Monaco Grand Prix took place on May 28, 2023, with Kimi Antonelli winning the race. Oscar Piastri, who was also penalized, noted that the issue with the timing loops in the pit lane was "reasonably obvious" during the race. George Russell, who finished out of the points, had pleaded with the FIA to impose a post-race penalty on him rather than the drive-through he got. The review has highlighted the importance of accurate timing and measurement in Formula 1. So the outcome of the review will be closely watched by teams and drivers. The FIA and Formula 1 Management will need to provide clarification on the issue. Lawson's team, Red Bull, will be waiting to see how the review affects their driver's result. The uncertainty surrounding Lawson's finish has added to the drama of the Monaco Grand Prix.