Liam Lawson urges Racing Bulls to 'chase' crucial improvement

Liam Lawson knows he has to keep 'chasing' after enjoying arguably his best day with Racing Bulls since rejoining the team.

Following his harsh demotion by Red Bull after just two grands prix this season, it has been a tough five races for Lawson with the 'sister' team as he remains without a point.

At the end of Friday practice for this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix, however, the New Zealander was a creditable fifth quickest.

Even applying the usual caveat that it was only practice, Lawson at least allowed himself to feel satisfied with his first day's work around the tight, twisty streets of the principality in a Formula 1 car.

Lawson finished just under half a second shy of pacesetter Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari, and a quarter of a second clear of Max Verstappen and Red Bull team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.

"It's a positive day, for sure," said Lawson. "It's one of those tracks, compared to most, where you're just building up for most of the weekend.

"We made a good step, but naturally, everyone is going to keep building again [on Saturday], and we have to keep chasing that, so we'll keep working.

"We made a lot of changes, and we'll basically chase it again, and then see, but it's a positive day."

It was Lawson's first laps around Monaco for three years after featuring in Formula 2 with Carlin, with whom he was eighth in the sprint before retiring in the feature event with a power loss.

For Lawson, the feeling was exhilarating.

"It's better in an F1 car," he said. "I've done it in F2 before, and although it's much faster in F1, it's much more compliant. It's a nicer car, and it's really, really fun.

"It's very special to be able to do this here, but Saturday is the important day. We'll focus on making another step for FP3 and try to put ourselves in a good place for quali."