Liam Lawson Bahrain GP: Penalties & Family Sacrifice

Few drivers carry the weight of family sacrifice quite like Liam Lawson. At the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, the 23-year-old New Zealander endured a race to forget, collecting two time penalties after collisions that left him near the back of the field.

Age: 23 (born 11 February 2002) ·
Team: Racing Bulls (RB) ·
Bahrain GP Starting Grid: 17th ·
Bahrain GP Final Position: 17th ·
Penalty Points after Race: 5

Quick snapshot

1Race Result

Grid: 17th (NZ Herald, New Zealand’s major newspaper)
Final: 17th (promoted to 16th after Nico Hülkenberg’s disqualification) (RaceFans, specialist motorsport publication)
Time penalties: two 10-second penalties (Wikipedia)

2Penalties

Collision with Lance Stroll (lap 1) — 1 penalty point (FIA stewards’ decision document)
Collision with Nico Hülkenberg (lap 13) — 2 penalty points (RaceFans)
Total penalty points: 5 (includes 2 from Qatar GP) (RaceFans)

3Family Background

Parents sold family home to fund early career (RaceFans)
Family from Hastings, New Zealand (NZ Herald)
Not a wealthy background (RaceFans)

4Career Stats

Age: 23 (NZ Herald)
Team: Racing Bulls (Red Bull junior) (FIA stewards)
F1 points before Bahrain: 5 (RaceFans)

Six key facts paint a clear picture of where Lawson stands after Round 4.

Label	Value
Age	23 (born 11 February 2002)
Birthplace	Hastings, New Zealand
Team	Racing Bulls (RB)
Bahrain GP Start	17th
Bahrain GP Finish	17th
Penalty Points after Race	5

Why did Lawson get a penalty?

Lawson was penalised twice during the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix for causing separate collisions. The first incident occurred on lap 1 with Lance Stroll, the second on lap 13 with Nico Hülkenberg.

Penalty points and time penalties

Lap 1, Turn 2: Lawson overtook but lost momentum, missed the apex and hit the rear axle of Stroll’s car. Minor contact, ruled a 5-second time penalty, plus 1 penalty point (FIA stewards’ decision document).
Lap 13, Turn 1: Lawson collided with Hülkenberg, incurring a 10-second time penalty and 2 penalty points (RaceFans).

The upshot

With 5 penalty points now on his super licence, Lawson sits just 7 points away from a one-race ban — a tight margin for any driver, but particularly risky for a rookie under pressure to perform.

Did Liam Lawson cause two collisions during the Bahrain GP?

The race stewards ruled Lawson at fault for both incidents. After the race, he acknowledged the contact but insisted it was unintentional.

Incident with Stroll on lap 1

Lawson, attempting an overtake at Turn 2, understeered and contacted Stroll’s rear axle (FIA stewards).
The stewards deemed it minor contact but a “collision” per the regulations.

Incident with Hülkenberg on lap 13

A second clash at Turn 1 earned Lawson a harsher penalty (RaceFans).
Lawson defended: “It wasn’t intentionally touching.” (RaceFans, quoting Lawson)

It wasn’t intentionally touching.

— Liam Lawson, as reported by RaceFans

Race stewards’ decision

Both penalties confirmed post-race; Lawson dropped to 17th, later promoted to 16th after Hülkenberg’s disqualification (Wikipedia).

Why this matters

For a driver whose family sold their home to fund his career, every penalty costs more than track position — it affects contract leverage and team perception. Two collisions in one race raise questions about racecraft under pressure.

Did Liam Lawson’s parents sell their house?

Yes. Lawson’s parents sold their family home to finance his early racing career, a story that surfaced on Red Bull’s official Facebook page.

Family sacrifice to fund racing career

Lawson grew up in Hastings, New Zealand, in a family that was not wealthy (RaceFans).
The sale of the family home provided funds for karting and junior formulae.

Facebook post revealing the story

Red Bull’s official Facebook page shared the family’s story as part of Lawson’s profile.
The post highlighted the level of commitment required to reach F1.

The trade-off

Lawson’s path to F1 is a reminder that talent alone isn’t enough — financial backing, often from family sacrifice, is the unseen variable. For every driver who makes it, dozens with similar talent never get the chance.

How old is Liam Lawson?

Liam Lawson was born on 11 February 2002 in Hastings, New Zealand. He is currently 23 years old (as of April 2025).

Born 11 February 2002

Exact date recorded by NZ Herald.

Age during the 2025 F1 season

At 23, Lawson is one of the younger drivers on the grid, alongside Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman.

Where is Liam Lawson from?

Lawson is a New Zealand racing driver from Hastings, in the Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand’s North Island.

Birthplace: Hastings, New Zealand

Confirmed by NZ Herald.

Nationality and representation

Lawson races under the New Zealand flag and is part of the Red Bull junior programme (Formula1.com, the official Formula 1 website).

Timeline: Lawson’s Bahrain weekend

12 April 2025 – Qualifying

Eliminated in Q1, set 17th fastest time (NZ Herald).

13 April 2025 – Race day

Lap 1: Collision with Stroll at Turn 2, 5-second penalty (FIA stewards).
Lap 13: Collision with Hülkenberg at Turn 1, 10-second penalty (RaceFans).
Finishes 17th on the road, later promoted to 16th (Wikipedia).

13 April 2025 (post-race)

Stewards confirm penalties; Lawson’s penalty points reach 5 (RaceFans).

The pattern: a weekend of costly mistakes for a driver under financial and competitive pressure.

What is confirmed and what is unclear

Confirmed facts

Lawson caused two collisions and received time penalties (RaceFans).
Lawson’s parents sold their family home to fund his early racing career (RaceFans).
Liam Lawson was born on 11 February 2002 in Hastings, New Zealand (NZ Herald).
He drives for Racing Bulls (RB) as part of the Red Bull junior program (FIA stewards).

What’s unclear

Lawson’s current residence (not specified in provided sources).
Exact net worth and salary figures (no verified data).
Whether Lawson owns a home (Facebook post suggests family does not own, but personal status unclear).
Lawson’s parents’ names (not specified in provided sources).
Lawson’s height (not recorded in available sources).

What this means: the known facts are solid, but key personal details remain private.

What happens next for Liam Lawson?

Lawson will need to clean up his racecraft quickly. With 5 penalty points on his super licence, another incident could trigger a race ban. The next round of the 2025 season is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah.

For Lawson, the path ahead is clear: avoid further penalties, or risk sitting out a race — a blow for any driver, but especially one whose family invested everything to get him here.

Frequently asked questions

What is Liam Lawson’s net worth?

No verified net worth figures are publicly available. Estimates vary widely, but Lawson is not among the highest-paid drivers on the grid.

How many F1 points does Liam Lawson have in the 2025 season?

Before Bahrain, Lawson had 5 points from earlier rounds. He did not score points in Bahrain, finishing 16th/17th.

What team does Liam Lawson drive for?

Lawson drives for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (RB), a Red Bull junior team. He races with car number 30 (FIA stewards).

Is Liam Lawson still part of the Red Bull driver program?

Yes, Lawson remains a Red Bull junior driver, driving for their sister team Racing Bulls.

When is Liam Lawson’s next race?

The 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is scheduled for the weekend following Bahrain, typically in April 2025.

What is Liam Lawson’s salary?

Lawson’s salary has not been disclosed by the team. As a rookie driver, he likely earns a modest base compared to top drivers.

Has Liam Lawson ever won a race in F1?

No, Lawson has not won an F1 race. His best result is a 9th place finish (scoring points) in the 2024 season.