Liam Lawson Targets Qualifying Trend in Alpine Fight

Liam Lawson is targeting the continuation of Racing Bulls' strong qualifying trend as the team attempts to close the gap to Alpine in the battle for fifth place in the Formula 1 constructors' championship. After finishing eighth in the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, Lawson said the Faenza-based squad has demonstrated clear single-lap speed but must improve its race performance.

Lawson is currently producing his most consistent run of the season. The New Zealander has scored points in three consecutive races and in five of the seven completed rounds, lifting him to 10th in the drivers' championship. Rookie team-mate Arvid Lindblad has also strengthened the team's position by finishing in the points at the last two events.

Qualifying Strength Gives Racing Bulls a Platform

Qualifying has emerged as one of Racing Bulls' main strengths this season. Lawson has made regular appearances in Q3 and placed the car in starting positions that provide a realistic opportunity to score points. That single-lap speed indicates that the package can generate strong initial grip, maintain a competitive aerodynamic balance, and bring the tyres into their operating window effectively on low fuel.

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The same level of performance has not always carried into the race. Across longer stints, Racing Bulls has occasionally lost pace through tyre degradation, changes in balance as fuel burns away, and difficulty keeping the tyres within their optimum temperature range. That has forced Lawson to focus on tyre management rather than sustained attack, particularly at circuits containing long and demanding corners.

"For us, it is good. It is a long season and we have a lot of races to go," Lawson said. "Alpine have had some good races recently and scored some good points. But if we keep this trend, we obviously have a quick car in qualifying. Hopefully that translates to the rest of the season."

Sixteen-Point Gap Makes Race Pace Decisive

Racing Bulls currently trails Alpine by 16 points in the contest for fifth in the constructors' standings, behind Formula 1's leading four teams. With the midfield separated by narrow margins, every result from both cars directly affects the team's championship position. Lawson's consistency and Lindblad's recent progress provide a stronger foundation, but qualifying positions alone will not be enough to overhaul Alpine.

The Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix offered an important reference because the circuit places demands on almost every area of a car's performance. Lawson finished eighth but acknowledged that the race pace did not match the potential shown over one lap. Barcelona requires stable downforce through fast corners while also demanding strong rear-tyre control under acceleration from slower sections.

"I think Barcelona is normally quite a good sign for that, so we just need to sort out the race car," Lawson added. His assessment points towards improving pace consistency across a full stint rather than focusing solely on additional qualifying performance. Racing Bulls must determine why the balance and grip available on low fuel become more difficult to maintain when the car carries a heavier fuel load and the tyres complete longer runs.

Alpine has consolidated fifth place through several strong results in recent rounds, leaving Racing Bulls dependent on regular points from both drivers. If Lawson can maintain his qualifying form and the team can convert that speed into stronger long-run performance, the 16-point deficit remains recoverable. The next round will provide another test of whether Racing Bulls can develop its single-lap strength into a more complete race package.