Liam Lawson has admitted that Alpine’s performance gain at the Miami Grand Prix has left Racing Bulls trailing in the midfield battle. The New Zealander highlighted the scale of improvement shown by the Enstone-based team following the seasonal break.
Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto both secured top-10 qualifying positions, underlining the effectiveness of upgrades introduced on the A526. The improvements appear to have enhanced both single-lap pace and overall car stability.
"The braking issue came in qualifying, we didn’t have it in practice. It caught us out straight away on the first lap."
From a technical standpoint, Lawson’s braking issue compromised confidence under heavy deceleration, a critical factor at a circuit like Miami that features multiple heavy braking zones and rapid direction changes.
He acknowledged that even without the issue, the gap to Alpine would likely remain significant, indicating a broader performance deficit that Racing Bulls must address through development.
"The gap to Alpine is too big. They’ve made a big step this weekend, and we need to improve."
This situation reflects the nature of the 2026 season, where continuous upgrades define competitiveness. Teams are introducing new components race-by-race, creating noticeable shifts in performance, particularly within the midfield.
Lawson also emphasised the importance of analysing rival developments, including aerodynamic concepts and setup approaches, as part of Racing Bulls’ development process.
"We can definitely learn from this. A lot of teams brought interesting ideas this weekend, and we’ll look into that."
With the midfield battle intensifying, the ability to interpret and respond to technical progress will be decisive. Miami has shown Alpine moving ahead, while Racing Bulls must adapt quickly to remain competitive in upcoming rounds.
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