‘It's going to be tough’ – Gasly admits Racing Bulls have looked ‘really strong’ amid midfield fight with Alpine

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly is wary of the threat Racing Bulls continue to pose at the Belgian Grand Prix, with the two teams locked into a tight battle for fifth in the Teams’ Championship.

Racing Bulls have impressed many in recent weeks, with the squad seemingly the pick of the midfield ever since they brought a major upgrade package to Canada.

That upturn in form has translated into a set of solid results with Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad earning double points scores in each of the last four Grands Prix. The New Zealander also scored an impressive P7 in Montreal after his rookie team mate was unable to take the start due to a technical issue.

As a result, Racing Bulls are now just a point behind fifth-placed Alpine and, while Gasly and Franco Colapinto both scored themselves at the British Grand Prix, the Frenchman conceded it was a “damage limitation” result given the performance of their midfield rivals.

Asked if it would be a similar situation in Spa, Gasly said: “Racing Bulls have looked really strong in the last few weekends, scoring points with both cars I think in the last four races.

“They've definitely done a good job, a better job than we've been able to do in the last couple of weeks. It's going to be tough because they're very competitive.”

Gasly also admitted that the situation is likely to stay the same until Alpine bring updates of their own to the A526 car, but he insisted the squad would be trying all they could to make things difficult for their rivals.

“[It] doesn't mean it's impossible but I think until we get this next batch of upgrades on the car, it's mainly going to be – I don't like to say damage limitation – but try to take it race by race and make their life as hard as possible,” Gasly continued.

“We've got a single point more in the championship, which we're going to try and hold onto as long as we can. But it's going to be a tricky one.”

From Racing Bulls’ perspective, Lawson was also hugely complimentary when quizzed on the progress the team had made in recent weeks. Speaking in the Thursday press conference in Belgium, he said: “It’s been very good. The car has been working really well.

“I think it’s just the progression [that is] probably the most satisfying part. It’s the fact that each upgrade we’re bringing or each area that we’re focusing on we’re managing to execute and find those gains that we’re searching for.

“It’s been really, really good but obviously it’s motorsport. Kimi [Antonelli]’s gone through it the last couple of weekends, sometimes there’s stuff that’s going to happen that’s out of your control. But right now everything that’s in my control I’m trying to focus on and it’s been bringing results, which has been great.”