Liam Lawson escaped a penalty after running a red light during the end of the first free practice session of the Formula 1 Monaco GP.
Read more F1: Check out the images from the first day of the Monaco GP 2026
In the closing minutes of the first session in Monte Carlo, a red flag was needed due to a crash by Fernando Alonso. However, the green flag released the drivers with just over a minute until the checkered flag to practice starts on the grid.
However, when the Racing Bulls driver left the pit lane to go onto the track, the red light indicated the end of the session – but the New Zealander ignored the signal. Therefore, after FP1, he was being investigated, but escaped punishment.
Read more Briatore opens up about Wolff, Horner, and Alpine’s future in Formula 1
“The driver was warned that he had 7s remaining when he left the garage. He then proceeded down the pit lane and the green light changed to red when he was approximately 0.8 seconds from crossing the pit exit. He then reported over team radio that he was focused on the timer, located above the pit exit, which still showed two seconds remaining before the light turned red,” the statement explained.
“The stewards also noted that, considering the driver had less than one second to react, if he had attempted to stop, he might have ended up stopping on the track. In view of the mitigating circumstances above, no penalty will be imposed,” it concluded.
Read more F1: FIA fines Mercedes and Aston Martin after FP2 in Monaco
