Lawson Finishes 14th in Las Vegas Amid Seat Pressure

Liam Lawson, the New Zealand Formula 1 driver, finished 14th at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Sunday, a disappointing result that came after a strong sixth-place qualifying and highlighted the mounting pressure on his bid to secure a seat for the 2026 season. The 23-year-old, competing for Racing Bulls, made contact with Oscar Piastri's McLaren at the first corner following a poor start, damaging his front wing and forcing an early pit stop that dropped him to the back of the field.

Lawson's challenging 2025 campaign began with high expectations after he impressed in a late-2024 stint replacing Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull. He started the season as Max Verstappen's teammate but struggled with pace in the RB21 car, leading to his demotion back to Racing Bulls after just two races. Yuki Tsunoda took his place at the senior team, while Lawson has since focused on proving his worth in the junior outfit, where he has recorded six points finishes, including a standout fifth place in Azerbaijan.

Teammate Isack Hadjar outperformed him in Las Vegas, finishing sixth after a disqualification elevated his position, adding to the French driver's strong season. Hadjar started on medium tires,...