As with many Grand Prix this season, the first corner of lap one has determined the outcome of the race. While Max Verstappen grabbed the lead in the 2025 Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix on lap one, holding it to the end, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Liam Lawson’s first corner (Lap 1) skirmish with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri determined his race, dropping the Kiwi down the order to finish in 16th.
“I’m disappointed for the team today as the car has been fast this weekend,” said Lawson. “It was extremely slippery into Turn 1 and once I committed to brake, the cars in front started checking up and I didn’t have anywhere to go. We should have had two cars in the points today, so it’s a shame given where we started. That being said, we’ll of course take the positives from the speed of the car into Qatar.”
Fortunate for Lawson, who sits on eight penalty points, the contact was deemed a racing incident with no further action required by race stewards.
Lawson’s teammate Isack Hadjar crossed the line in eight. However, with the disqualification of both McLaren drivers due to a technical infringement, he moved up to sixth gaining valuable points for the Constructor’s Championship and now sixth-place Racing Bulls has extended the gap back to seventh place by 17-points. Haas F1 Team have moved ahead of Aston Martin with their drivers Esteban Ocan and Ollie Bearman finishing in ninth and tenth while Aston Martin scored zero points.
“A strong weekend for us,” said Racing Bulls Team Principal Allan Permane. “Isack drove a great race and didn’t put a foot wrong, bringing home eight very valuable points for the Constructor’s Championship. Whilst we didn’t have the pace to challenge those in front, it was a case of looking after the tyres, ensuring we didn’t hit any graining at the front, and keeping a sensible gap to Hulkenberg behind.
“Liam unfortunately reacted to Russell locking up in front of him and clipped Piastri, which resulted in him having to come in for a front wing change. In a straightforward, one-stop race like that, it’s difficult to make positions up from the back. Nevertheless, we prove again we’ve got a fast car, with fast drivers and we look forward to the Sprint weekend in Qatar next weekend.”
F1 Constructors’ Championship Points
1/ McLaren 756
2/ Mercedes 431
3/ Red Bull Racing 391
4/ Ferrari 378
5/ Williams 121
6/ RB 90
7/ Haas F1 Team 73
8/ Aston Martin Racing 72
9/ Sauber 68
10/ Alpine 22
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