Pierre Gasly has fired a warning at Racing Bulls after claiming the team deliberately used its drivers to play the “team game” during the Dutch Grand Prix, costing Alpine valuable time and potentially changing the outcome of his race.
Gasly started 11th and eventually finished 10th at Zandvoort, but his afternoon became increasingly frustrating after he found himself trapped behind Arvid Lindblad following his first pit stop. The Racing Bulls driver had already received a drive-through penalty for a yellow-flag infringement, yet Gasly still struggled to clear him. When Gasly finally attacked around Turn 11, he locked up and was passed by Nico Hülkenberg, while Yuki Tsunoda subsequently joined the fight.
GASLY ACCUSES RACING BULLS OF DELIBERATE TEAM PLAY
Gasly was clearly unhappy with how the Racing Bulls drivers handled the situation, arguing that their tactics had cost him both track position and significant race time.
“VCARB ruined our race in the middle part of the race, played a team game for the championship and did it well,” Gasly said after the race.
The Alpine driver believes the strategy effectively allowed Racing Bulls to protect its championship position at Alpine’s expense. Gasly claimed he lost a position to Hülkenberg and Tsunoda and surrendered “how many seconds of race time” as he battled his way through the traffic.
His closing remark was particularly revealing: “I have a good memory, so I’m going to make sure we smile at the end of the year.”
That sounds less like a passing complaint and more like a warning.
LINDLBLAD REFUSES TO APOLOGISE
Lindblad did not appear particularly concerned by Gasly’s criticism.
Asked about the comments after the race, the 19-year-old gave a blunt response before explaining that he was simply carrying out his responsibilities to Racing Bulls.
“I played the team game,” Lindblad said.
The teenager also pointed out that his own race was already effectively compromised, meaning he was prepared to do whatever he could to help his team.
That response is important because Racing Bulls are locked in a tight Constructors’ Championship battle with Alpine. According to the report, Racing Bulls entered the aftermath of Zandvoort just three points ahead of Alpine, making every position—and potentially every second—valuable.
THIS COULD BECOME A BIGGER F1 RIVALRY
The fascinating part of this controversy is that Gasly isn’t merely angry about losing a few positions. He believes Racing Bulls made a calculated championship decision that directly harmed Alpine.
From Racing Bulls’ perspective, however, there is nothing unusual about protecting a Constructors’ Championship position. Formula 1 teams routinely make decisions that benefit their own championship campaign, particularly when midfield positions are separated by only a handful of points.
The problem is that Gasly now appears to have taken note.
His “good memory” comment could become particularly interesting later in the season if Alpine and Racing Bulls find themselves fighting over crucial points again. A driver who feels another team deliberately cost him a result may be less inclined to offer cooperation when the circumstances are reversed.
GASLY’S WARNING COULD COME BACK LATER
Zandvoort’s layout made Gasly’s frustration even worse. Overtaking is notoriously difficult around the Dutch circuit, meaning a driver can lose enormous amounts of time when trapped behind another car.
Gasly ultimately finished 10th, just behind Fernando Alonso, while Tsunoda and Lindblad finished behind him. On paper, that may look like a relatively minor midfield incident.
But the championship implications could be much greater.
With Racing Bulls only three points ahead of Alpine, every point matters. A single position gained or lost at the end of the season could determine which team finishes higher in the Constructors’ Championship—and potentially millions of dollars in prize money and commercial leverage.
Gasly therefore has every reason to remember what happened.
THE REAL FIGHT MAY ONLY BE STARTING
The Dutch GP controversy is unlikely to become one of Formula 1’s biggest scandals, but it has added another layer to an increasingly competitive midfield battle.
Racing Bulls successfully protected its interests at Zandvoort. Gasly, meanwhile, believes that protection came at Alpine’s expense.
For now, Lindblad can shrug off the criticism. But Gasly’s warning carries weight: he says he will remember.
And if Alpine and Racing Bulls are still separated by a handful of points when the season reaches its decisive rounds, Sunday’s incident could suddenly look much more important than it initially appeared.
In Formula 1, grudges don’t always disappear after the chequered flag. Sometimes, they simply wait for the next opportunity.
