Liam Lawson will start with a heavy penalty at Monza after the installation of several new engine components on Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull.
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Liam Lawson will have to deal with a grid penalty for the Italian Grand Prix. Red Bull has decided to take advantage of the Monza weekend to introduce several new power unit elements on the RB22 normally driven by Isack Hadjar.
The Frenchman is still absent due to the wrist injury sustained during the summer break. Lawson is therefore replacing him for the second consecutive race, but the new components are officially assigned to Hadjar’s car.
An important distinction since the New Zealander will not carry this penalty with him when he returns to his usual Racing Bulls car.
Red Bull far exceeds the allowed quotas
Hadjar’s RB22 had already exceeded the regulatory limits concerning several components even before the Italian weekend. Red Bull nevertheless chose to go even further at Monza to build up a stock of fresher parts for the rest of the season.
Lawson will thus use a new internal combustion engine. It will be the sixth of the season while only four are allowed without penalty.
Same situation regarding the turbocharger: Red Bull is installing a sixth unit for a quota set at four. A sixth exhaust system will also be mounted, again beyond the four allowed.
These three categories were already out of quota on Hadjar’s car. Red Bull therefore decided to add two more components to the list.
Two new limits crossed
The RB22 will also receive a new MGU-K, the system responsible for recovering and returning kinetic energy. It will be the fourth unit used while the regulations only allow three.
A new auxiliary power unit component, the PU-ANC, will also be installed. Red Bull will then have used seven units for only six allowed during the season.
The accumulation of these changes will result in a grid penalty for the car driven by Lawson this weekend.
This decision also partly explains the different program followed by the New Zealander during Friday’s FP2. Technical director Pierre Waché had already hinted that Lawson would receive a penalty, which led the team to focus more on race preparation.
The penalty belongs to Hadjar’s car
The situation is particular since Lawson is only Hadjar’s temporary replacement at Red Bull.
However, the new elements are associated with the component quota of the Frenchman’s car and not personally to the driver in the cockpit. Lawson will serve the penalty at Monza, but it will have no consequence on the engine stock of his Racing Bulls when he returns to his usual seat.
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His return might not happen immediately. Hadjar remains uncertain for the next Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid due to his recovery, which could lead Lawson to race a third consecutive time with Red Bull.
Yuki Tsunoda would then likely continue to replace him at Racing Bulls.
Monza, the ideal circuit to accept a penalty
Red Bull’s choice is not surprising given the characteristics of the Italian circuit. Monza is traditionally one of the preferred venues for teams when they have to accept engine penalties.
The long straights, powerful braking zones, and slipstreaming opportunities offer more overtaking chances than many other circuits on the calendar.
Starting from the back of the pack is therefore less penalizing there than on a street circuit like Monaco or on a track where overtaking is particularly difficult.
Red Bull thus prefers to sacrifice Lawson’s starting position to have fresher components for upcoming races.
Antonelli and Albon also penalized
Lawson will not be the only driver forced to drop back on Sunday.
Mercedes has already adopted a similar strategy with Kimi Antonelli. The championship leader received a new power unit and will be condemned to start from the back of the grid for his home Grand Prix.
Williams has also installed new components on Alexander Albon’s car, who will also have to start from the back.
These penalties could significantly change the grid’s complexion and offer an exciting race, with several fast drivers forced to make their way through the pack.
A decision focused on the rest of the season
For Red Bull, the stakes go far beyond the Italian Grand Prix. With several quotas already exceeded on Hadjar’s RB22, the team prefers to renew a significant part of its engine stock on a circuit favorable to overtaking.
Lawson will have to pay the price on Sunday, but the new components will remain available for Hadjar when he is sufficiently recovered to get back behind the wheel.
Red Bull thus voluntarily sacrifices the starting position of its second car at Monza to better prepare for upcoming races. A bet made easier by the characteristics of the Temple of Speed, where Lawson will at least have the tools to attempt a comeback from the back of the pack.
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