Liam Lawson Fears Alpine Could Overhaul Racing Bulls in Austria

Liam Lawson admits Racing Bulls cannot afford to relax despite locking out the fourth row of the grid in Austria, with Alpine looming as a genuine race-day threat. The New Zealander qualified ninth, one place ahead of teammate Arvid Lindblad, yet remains wary that Sunday's Grand Prix could see the Enstone squad overturn that advantage.

Why it matters:

Securing "best of the rest" status behind F1's top four teams is a significant step for Racing Bulls, but Lawson's caution underscores how quickly midfield fortunes can change. Alpine has shown superior long-run pace in recent races, notably converting a weaker Barcelona qualifying into a stronger result than Racing Bulls on race day. With Pierre Gasly sitting just outside the top 10 in 11th, the French manufacturer is perfectly positioned to capitalize on any slip-ups.

The details:

• Lawson missed FP1 to accommodate Ayumu Iwasa, yet still delivered a "best of the rest" performance in every subsequent session, even outpacing George Russell and Max Verstappen in Q1.
• Lawson eventually took ninth on the grid, with Lindblad in 10th, giving the Faenza team a clear two-car buffer over its closest rivals.
• Alpine's qualifying was comparatively subdued, with Gasly 11th and Franco Colapinto down in 16th, though both drivers are expected to be more competitive over a race stint.
• Racing Bulls has focused on race trim since Barcelona, with Lawson acknowledging that Alpine "has been very strong in the races" and expecting a hard afternoon.

What's next:

Sunday's race will reveal whether Racing Bulls has truly cured its Sunday struggles or if Alpine will once again surge through the midfield. Lawson knows that starting positions alone won't guarantee points, and any loss of tire life or track position could flip the order. The outcome is likely to shape the early battle for fifth in the constructors' championship.