Liam Lawson strong start at Italian Grand Prix

Liam Lawson had a fourth and 12th in practice sessions at the Italian Grand Prix PHOTO: ORACLE RED BULL RACING

A promising start for New Zealand driver Liam Lawson in Formula One's Italian Grand Prix for Red Bull

Lawson in his second consecutive Grand Prix of the season for Red Bull was fourth fastest in the opening session at Monza, at 1:23.433 lap to finish 0.425sec behind Ferrari’s session-leading Charles Leclerc.

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Lawson was the only Red Bull race driver to take part in FP1, with Max Verstappen’s car handed to reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa for the session.

Twenty-four-year-old Lawson who was seventh at the Dutch Grand Prix completed 37 laps in the second session and recorded a best time of 1:23.660, placing him 12th and 1.101sec behind pace-setter George Russell.

Teammate Verstappen was ninth in the second practice.