Liam Lawson delivered his strongest performance of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Monaco Grand Prix, securing an impressive eighth-place finish and earning a wave of fan praise, plus a memorable new nickname.
The Racing Bulls driver returned to the sister team earlier this season following Yuki Tsunoda’s mid-season promotion to Red Bull, but had struggled to match rookie teammate Isack Hadjar across the early rounds. In Monaco, however, Lawson turned the tide with his first Q3 appearance of the year and a well-executed race that brought home valuable points for the team.
Both Racing Bulls drivers finished inside the top ten, marking the outfit’s best result of the year. Hadjar finished sixth, continuing his breakout rookie campaign, while Lawson’s role in holding up traffic to protect the team’s strategy drew widespread admiration from fans online.
Lawson Monaco tactics earn him new nickname
The strategic plan unfolded under the new two-stop format introduced for Monaco — a race where overtaking is notoriously difficult. Racing Bulls tactically used Lawson to manage the pace of the pack during pit stop phases, preventing rivals from executing an overcut on either driver.
The move proved decisive, and fans were quick to respond on social media. “Let’s gooo Liam ‘The Shield’ Lawson,” one supporter wrote on Instagram, while another added, “Liam is not ‘Slowson’ now, he is Liam ‘The Ultimate Shield’ Lawson.”
The nickname “The Shield” quickly spread through fan communities and was embraced as a tribute to Lawson’s selfless racecraft. His teammate Hadjar was also celebrated, with one fan calling him “the future,” while others praised the duo for a perfectly executed team race.
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Lawson was modest in his post-race comments, focusing on the team’s result. “It was a great result for the team, and it’s always nice to come away with points, which isn’t the easiest around Monaco,” Lawson said. “Everything came together nicely this weekend, and we executed the race perfectly.”
The 23-year-old also addressed the new two-stop rule, saying it didn’t drastically alter the outcome in Monaco: “The two-stop format didn’t make a huge difference for us… The pace has been there for a few races now, so it was good to show it this weekend.”
While Hadjar continues to outperform his more experienced teammate overall, Monaco marked a turning point for Lawson. He’ll need more performances like this to retain his seat, especially with Arvid Lindblad impressing in Formula 2 and potentially in line for a promotion.
Why is Liam Lawson called “The Shield”?
After a defensive masterclass at the 2025 Monaco GP, F1 fans dubbed Lawson “The Shield” for helping Racing Bulls execute a smart team strategy.
How did Racing Bulls perform at the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix?
Both Racing Bulls drivers finished in the top 10, with Isack Hadjar sixth and Liam Lawson eighth, marking the team’s best result of the season.
Will Liam Lawson keep his Racing Bulls seat in 2025?
Lawson’s Monaco performance strengthened his position, but pressure remains from F2 talent Arvid Lindblad and expectations of consistency.
