Alonso: Racing Bulls showed 'more pace than us' in tight US GP battle

Fernando Alonso expressed concerns that Racing Bulls demonstrated superior pace during the United States Grand Prix, despite Aston Martin securing a crucial point. Alonso's tenth-place finish in Austin, just three seconds ahead of Liam Lawson, highlighted a intensifying battle for sixth in the Constructors' Championship, with only three points now separating the two teams.

Why it matters:

Aston Martin's struggle to maintain pace against rivals like Racing Bulls and Sauber signals a worrying trend as the season approaches its close. With the Constructors' Championship battle tightening, every point is critical, and a perceived deficit in race pace could threaten Aston Martin's position against aggressive midfield competitors.

The Details:

• Alonso finished 10th at the Circuit of the Americas, securing one point for Aston Martin, with Liam Lawson finishing 11th for Racing Bulls.
• This result puts Racing Bulls ahead of Aston Martin in the Constructors' standings by three points (72 to 69).
• Sauber is also a strong contender, sitting at 59 points after Nico Hulkenberg's eighth-place finish.
• Alonso noted that Lawson's Racing Bulls car was within one second of his Aston Martin for the entire race, indicating better underlying pace.
• Race Pace Concerns: Alonso admitted, "We didn't have the pace to be honest. We were slow compared to the cars in front of us, and we were holding the Racing Bulls up behind us."
• He further elaborated that Aston Martin struggled more in the race than in any other session over the US GP weekend.

The Big Picture:

Alonso believes Aston Martin is currently the ninth fastest team, with only Alpine consistently behind them. He specifically mentioned Haas, Sauber, and Williams as being "clearly in front of us" or "in another league." This assessment reflects a downturn in performance for Aston Martin, which started the season strongly but has since seen its competitive edge diminish, allowing other midfield teams to close the gap.

What's next:

With five rounds remaining, including two Sprint races, Aston Martin faces a significant challenge to reclaim or defend its position in the Constructors' Championship. Alonso has identified Mexico and Las Vegas as potentially the "worst of the remaining tracks" for Aston Martin, while Brazil and Qatar might be more favorable. Securing even "a point or two in Mexico, that will be very welcome," underscoring the team's current struggle and the importance of maximizing results at every opportunity.