Bayer calls Racing Bulls Monaco tactics ‘a stroke of genius’

Racing Bulls chief executive Peter Bayer described the team’s clever manipulation of the FIA’s two-stop rule in the Monaco Grand Prix as a “stroke of genius” after both of its drivers, Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson, crossed the finish line in the points.

The Faenza-based outfit pulled off a brilliantly coordinated plan between its two drivers, with Lawson holding back the midfield train to allow Hadjar to open up the gap necessary for a quick-fire double pit stop strategy.

The result: Hadjar claimed an impressive sixth place and Lawson secured eighth, netting the team a vital haul of points and narrowing the gap to sixth-placed Haas in the Constructors’ Championship to just four.

“Brilliant job by our strategists,” Bayer said after the race. “We’ve had our share of frustrations with Laurent [Mekies, team principal] over strategy but today they really pulled off a stroke of genius.

“The bit of risk we took definitely paid off.”

A Balancing Act Between Risk and Reward

Racing Bulls’ high-risk strategy hinged on both driver cooperation and pit stop precision. Hadjar made his first stop on Lap 14, rejoining in clean air thanks to Lawson’s carefully orchestrated pace.

A second stop just five laps later cemented his track position. Behind, Lawson continued to manage the gap to disrupt rivals’ pit windows and consolidate team control over the pack.

Bayer revealed the team briefly considered defending against Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, but ultimately decided to let the Briton go in favor of maximizing their dual strategy – a decision he believes was instrumental to their success.

“Theoretically there was even more possible,” Bayer admitted. “The risk was definitely high – ‘no risk, no fun’, as they say – but the decision was to let Lewis go so we could essentially take control with both our cars.

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“Carlos [Sainz] might have taken that position from us otherwise, but since he was clearly pushing hard, we said ‘okay, that gives us the window’. And we had to use the soft tyres, so we tried to keep that stint as short as possible because they simply wouldn’t deliver performance over a long period.

“And yeah, perfectly executed by the guys – we’re very, very happy that the risk paid off.”

Hadjar Praises Lawson’s Team Play in “Boring” Race

For Hadjar, the race itself was a test of patience due to the tyre management required, but he was quick to credit Lawson’s crucial role in the strategy’s success.

“The problem is you’re nearly falling asleep because you’re doing tyre management and it’s becoming really boring,” Hadjar said.

“Sometimes I was picking up the pace because I was so bored that I had to keep thinking. It was a long way to the end.

“Qualifying was the most intense day and the most hard work I’ve had to put in since I can remember,” Hadjar reflected.

“Today it was a bit easier because I really relied on Liam. He followed the strategy and the plan perfectly. He offered me really early pitstops,” he said.

“That was the target and that was perfectly executed.”

The result marked Racing Bulls’ best performance of the 2025 season, showcasing their strategic acumen and teamwork.

With strategy, execution, and teamwork aligning to perfection, the young bulls’ Monaco performance was not just smart — it was a statement.

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