Red Bull have suffered another setback ahead of Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, with the FIA confirming that Liam Lawson will take a huge 35-place grid penalty at Monza.
The New Zealand driver, who is once again standing in for the injured Isack Hadjar, will be forced to start from the back of the grid after Red Bull introduced a new power unit for his car on Saturday.
Lawson’s penalty is the latest in a series of grid drops handed out ahead of the race at the iconic Monza circuit. With a 35-place penalty far exceeding the number of available positions on the starting grid, the Red Bull driver will effectively begin Sunday’s race from the very back of the field, regardless of where he qualifies.
The decision represents a significant challenge for Lawson, who will now have to fight his way through the pack if he is to score a strong result in one of Formula 1’s fastest races of the season.
Monza is renowned for its long straights and high-speed corners, making overtaking possible in several areas of the circuit. However, starting at the rear means Lawson will have a difficult task, particularly if he becomes caught in traffic during the opening stages.
The FIA’s confirmation also means Lawson becomes the third driver to receive a major grid penalty for the Italian Grand Prix.
Mercedes championship leader Kimi Antonelli has been handed a 30-place grid drop, while Williams driver Alex Albon will serve a 20-place penalty. Like Lawson, both drivers will therefore be pushed towards the back of the starting order once the penalties are applied.
For Red Bull, Lawson’s penalty adds further pressure to what is already an important weekend. The team will be hoping the new power unit provides enough performance and reliability to justify accepting such a severe grid drop.
Lawson, meanwhile, faces the challenge of recovering as many positions as possible during Sunday afternoon’s race. His ability to make progress through the field could prove crucial, especially given the importance of track position at Monza.
The Italian Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at 3pm local time on Sunday, which is 2pm in the UK and 9am Eastern Time.
With Lawson starting from the back, all eyes will be on the Red Bull driver to see whether he can turn a difficult starting position into a respectable finish.
