Liam Lawson sets Racing Bulls clear target with 'no room for error'

Liam Lawson has urged Racing Bulls to make every moment count at this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix, calling on the team to "maximise every session and build confidence quickly" after a frustrating split result in Canada.

The New Zealander scored a solid seventh place at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, climbing from P12 on the grid, but the weekend was blighted by team-mate Arvid Lindblad's failure to even start the grand prix.

The 18-year-old, who had qualified ninth and scored a point with eighth in the sprint, was unable to get his car into gear on the grid due to a gearbox problem, ending his afternoon before the lights went out.

It left Racing Bulls with seven points from the weekend when the haul could have been considerably larger, and Lawson is determined to put that right on the streets of Monte Carlo.

"We're coming into Monaco after a mixed weekend for the team in Canada, where there were positives to take away but also things we know we can improve on," he said.

"Monaco presents a completely different challenge, so it's important that we maximise every session and build confidence quickly.

"It's a track where precision is everything, so we hope to put together a strong weekend for the team."

'No room for error'

Racing Bulls sit sixth in the constructors' championship on 21 points after five rounds, just two clear of Haas, making consistent points finishes from both cars essential.

Monaco's tight confines and unforgiving barriers will test the VCARB03 in a very different way from Montreal's high-speed layout. Lawson, who now lives in Monaco, is well aware of the unique demands the circuit presents.

"Monaco is always one of the highlights of the year, particularly as it kicks off the European stretch of the season," he added. 

"It's such an iconic track, and to race through these streets is unlike anywhere else on the calendar. The track is incredibly unique, with no room for error and a lot of very slow-speed corners that really test the car and us as drivers.

"The atmosphere around the whole weekend is incredible too; there's a real buzz in the city, and it feels even more special now that I live here."