Racing Bulls left the Belgian Formula 1 GP with mixed feelings, after scoring points but also identifying missed opportunities. The team believes they could have achieved a better result at Spa-Francorchamps and places great expectations on the full update package planned for the Hungarian GP.
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The main highlight was Arvid Lindblad, who started seventh and finished the race in ninth position. Liam Lawson, who started ninth, crossed the line in 12th after facing performance issues throughout the race.
Alan Permane, team principal, stated that the Virtual Safety Car had a direct impact on Lindblad’s result. According to him, the neutralization allowed Audi to make their stop and return ahead of the Racing Bulls driver.
“We had a reasonable race at Spa, but there are certainly important lessons to take forward. Without the Virtual Safety Car, Arvid had the pace to finish eighth,” said Permane. He also revealed that Lawson faced issues with the energy management system throughout the race.
The manager also highlighted that the New Zealander will receive the full update package in Hungary, something that could represent a significant performance gain: “The updates look very strong, and the teams at our two factories have done a fantastic job,” he added.
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Lindblad celebrated scoring points and positively evaluated his progress behind the wheel: “Scoring points today is a great way to end the weekend in Belgium. I felt we had the potential to finish eighth, but credit must be given to Audi, who made very good use of the Virtual Safety Car,” he said.
The young driver also highlighted the growing confidence in the car and the good atmosphere within the team: “Each weekend I feel more comfortable. We are working very collaboratively and it’s great to see this effort translate into results on track,” he concluded, showing enthusiasm to race in Hungary, one of his favorite tracks.
Lawson, for his part, regretted the lack of pace during the race, despite considering the start as the team’s best of the season: “We tried different modes to improve performance, but nothing made the difference we expected. Still, there were positive points in the car’s development, and I’m looking forward to having the full update package next week,” he added.
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