The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix marked the standout weekend of the season so far for the Racing Bulls team, as both of their young drivers delivered exceptional performances that earned them career-best results and widespread praise from the Formula 1 community.
Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson showcased their talent early on with impressive qualifying laps that set the stage for a strategically flawless race on the streets of Monte Carlo. The pair maximised Racing Bulls’ race plan, which was executed to perfection and rewarded them with a sixth-place finish for Hadjar and an eighth-place result for Lawson—both personal bests in their burgeoning F1 careers.
Liam Lawson, in particular, gained new admiration from fans as he played a crucial supporting role in the team’s strategy. His job was to manage the pace and create a buffer behind him, holding up competitors from Williams and Mercedes. This tactical move allowed Hadjar to build enough of a gap to pit twice during the first third of the race without falling into traffic, effectively securing his top-six result early on.
After completing his role, Liam Lawson was then free to increase his pace, with Williams later mirroring the same strategy to ensure both of their drivers finished in the points. The result added a valuable 12 points to Racing Bulls’ constructors’ tally and marked one of the most effective team strategies seen this season under team principal Laurent Mekies.
Jenson Button reportedly offered Liam Lawson some pre-race advice on how to close the pace gap to his teammate. Although that specific goal may not have materialised on track, there was no questioning the quality and discipline of Liam Lawson’s drive on Sunday.
Hadjar’s sixth-place finish placed him just behind Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton in the final classification. However, the rookie crossed the line a full lap down on the seven-time World Champion. Despite that, Lewis Hamilton was quick to acknowledge Hadjar’s achievement. On the cooldown lap, the Ferrari driver offered a thumbs-up in recognition of the Frenchman’s outstanding performance, a gesture that Hadjar acknowledged with a wave—an exchange that quickly captured the attention of fans online.
The interaction between the rookie and one of Formula 1’s greatest drivers resonated with many viewers. Fans took to social media to express admiration for the French and Algerian racing driver, with comments ranging from calling him “adorable” to noting how often he takes the chance to greet his idol, Lewis Hamilton. Others remarked that Hadjar seemed to be “living his dream” by racing alongside a legend, while some went as far as to suggest that the Maranello team should consider him as a future replacement once Lewis Hamilton retires.
The significance of the weekend extended beyond fan appreciation. Isack Hadjar’s strong result has propelled him into the top ten of the Drivers’ Championship standings, a rare feat for a rookie and one he now shares only with Mercedes newcomer Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The performance underscored the progress Racing Bulls have made since the previous round in Imola, where they began to show signs of a pace breakthrough.
Speaking during his post-race press commitments, Isack Hadjar described the Monaco Grand Prix as a “perfect Sunday” for both himself and the team. He expressed complete satisfaction with his race, suggesting that there was little more he could have done. He referred to the result as a “small victory,” especially considering the seamless execution of their two-stop strategy. The rookie highlighted the importance of teamwork, praising Lawson for his role in helping him secure the result and acknowledging the collective effort behind their double points finish.
Isack Hadjar also noted that the increased strategic complexity of a two-stop race added an interesting challenge, which the team handled effectively. He pointed out that since the Imola round, Racing Bulls had made clear progress, a trend they successfully carried into Monaco.
Looking ahead, Isack Hadjar expressed optimism for the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, confident that the team’s recent momentum could continue as the 2025 season progresses.
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