Alpine Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly has blamed Racing Bulls' team tactics for his underwhelming result at the Dutch Grand Prix, as the two teams continue their close battle for fifth place in the constructors' championship.
Key Highlights
- Pierre Gasly finished 10th at the Dutch Grand Prix after starting 11th on the grid.
- Gasly spent 17 laps trying to get past Arvid Lindblad after his first pitstop.
- Yuki Tsunoda later became another obstacle, costing Gasly additional time in his fight with Fernando Alonso.
- Racing Bulls lead Alpine by just three points in the constructors' championship, with 66 points to 63.
Gasly's Strong Start Unravels at Zandvoort
Gasly entered the Dutch Grand Prix weekend in strong form after qualifying and finishing eighth in the sprint, earning "best of the rest" honours. However, he could only manage 11th on the grid for Sunday's main race. A strong opening lap quickly changed his fortunes, with the former Racing Bulls driver climbing to eighth.
His progress came to a halt after his first pitstop, however, when he emerged behind Arvid Lindblad. Lindblad had already received a drive-through penalty for a yellow-flag infringement, meaning he was effectively out of contention for points. Despite that, Gasly remained stuck behind him for seven laps.
Lindblad Becomes a Major Roadblock
Gasly eventually tried to pass Lindblad around the outside of Turn 11, but a lock-up allowed Nico Hulkenberg to get past him. Yuki Tsunoda was also closing in behind the Alpine.
Hulkenberg quickly cleared Lindblad, but Gasly continued to struggle. Tsunoda then made an impressive move on Gasly into Turn 7, setting up the overtake through the banked Turn 3 curve.
With Lindblad making it relatively easy for his Racing Bulls teammate to pass, Gasly remained trapped in the fight. In total, it took the Frenchman 17 laps to finally get past Lindblad.
The lost time proved costly. Gasly ultimately finished one second behind Fernando Alonso, having lost around four seconds to the Aston Martin while stuck behind Lindblad despite being on newer tyres.
Gasly Accuses Racing Bulls of Playing the Team Game
The situation became even more frustrating after Gasly's second pitstop, when he found himself behind Tsunoda once again. It took another 10 laps for the Alpine driver to find a way past his former teammate.
Gasly believed the Racing Bulls drivers had deliberately used their positions to benefit their team's championship campaign. "VCARB ruined our race in the middle part of the race, played a team game for the championship and did it well," Gasly lamented.
Gasly added that the tactics cost him a position to Hulkenberg and significant race time. Despite the frustration, he acknowledged the effectiveness of the strategy, saying he could not wait to race Racing Bulls again.
Racing Bulls Gain No Points Despite Gasly's Frustration
Interestingly, the Racing Bulls strategy did not result in any championship points for the Faenza-based team. Tsunoda finished 11th, while Lindblad came home 12th. However, the tactics arguably had a direct impact on Gasly's final result.
The time lost behind Lindblad contributed to Alonso finishing just one second ahead, while the additional delay behind Tsunoda prevented Gasly from closing the gap to the Aston Martin as quickly as he could have. Alonso had completed a one-stop strategy, giving Gasly even more reason to believe that ninth place was within reach.
Lindblad Stands Firm on His Team Role
Lindblad was unfazed when Gasly's comments were put to him, offering a different perspective on the incident. He acknowledged that he had "played the team game", but explained that his own race was effectively over after the penalty and that he simply tried to help his team where possible.
Lindblad also appeared unconcerned about Gasly's suggestion that he would remember the incident, insisting that every driver fights as hard as possible each weekend while supporting their team when they can.
Alpine and Racing Bulls Locked in Tight Championship Battle
The tension between Alpine and Racing Bulls comes as both teams fight for fifth place in the constructors' championship. Racing Bulls currently hold 66 points, while Alpine have moved up to 63, leaving just a three-point gap between them.
With the championship battle so closely contested, Gasly's frustration highlights just how significant every position — and every second on track — can become as the season progresses.
