Steve Nielsen had warned before the British Grand Prix that a single eventful race could completely reignite the battle against Racing Bulls. The Silverstone scenario proved him right.
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Before the Silverstone meeting, Alpine held a 13-point lead over Racing Bulls in the fight for fifth place in the constructors’ championship.
A margin that Steve Nielsen nevertheless refused to consider comfortable.
“No. We are not even halfway through the season. There are still ten, eleven, or twelve races left. There is no reason to relax.”
Alpine’s general manager reminded that everything could change very quickly.
“It only takes one somewhat chaotic race, and if Racing Bulls finish ahead of us, they can score a lot of points.”
A real development war
For Nielsen, the fight is not limited to on-track results.
The two teams are also engaged in a constant technical battle.
“The gap is about 13 points. That can change in a single weekend. We are engaged in a real development war with Racing Bulls.”
Silverstone confirms his fears
The events of the British Grand Prix perfectly illustrated his remarks.
From the Sprint, Liam Lawson had reduced the gap by scoring a point thanks to his eighth place.
In the race, Racing Bulls already seemed well on track to make an excellent haul with Lawson and Arvid Lindblad solidly in the points. Then everything accelerated in the final laps.
The problems encountered by Kimi Antonelli with his left front wheel cover, his penalty for track limits, then the accident of Max Verstappen causing a safety car completely reshuffled the cards.
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Lawson and Lindblad ultimately finished sixth and seventh, offering a valuable total of points to Racing Bulls.
Alpine limits the damage
Fortunately for Alpine, Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly also benefited from the many twists and turns.
Thanks to the bunching up of the pack behind the safety car and Antonelli’s exit from the points, the two Alpine drivers managed to score three points.
A result that allows the French team to maintain, just barely, its advantage.
After Silverstone, Alpine now totals 60 points against 59 for Racing Bulls.
A battle that is just beginning
If Nielsen was right, he also knows that Racing Bulls is not the only threat.
“I also hear that other teams, like Aston Martin or Williams, are preparing significant upgrades. There are still many races left and we take absolutely nothing for granted.”
The fight for fifth place in the constructors’ championship therefore promises to be more open than ever, with only a single point now separating Alpine and Racing Bulls.
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