Fernando Alonso makes Racing Bulls claim after tight Liam Lawson battle

Fernando Alonso believes the fact he was not able to pull away from Liam Lawson in the United States GP shows Racing Bulls "have more pace than us."

Alonso finished 10th in Austin, about three seconds clear of Lawson in 11th as the fight for sixth in the constructors' championship intensifies with just three points now between the two teams.

Lawson's Racing Bulls team is currently ahead on 72 points, with Alonso's single point moving Aston Martin to 69 with five rounds, including two Sprints remaining.

Sauber is also within striking distance on 59 points following Nico Hulkenberg's return to the top 10, with a strong eighth. 

Reflecting on the battle, Alonso urged his team on to ensure that it can finish ahead of the Lawson-Isack Hadjar team.

"It was a hard one point, we didn't have the pace to be honest," Alonso reflected to media, including RacingNews365, about his race.

"We were slow compared to the cars in front of us, and we were holding the [Racing Bulls] up behind us, and he was within one second for the whole race.

"So that means that they have more pace than us, and we struggled in the race more than in any other session over the weekend. We need to improve on that in the last five races.

"We were probably ninth [fastest] today, and I think our team is maybe the one that is struggling [apart] from Alpine.

"Haas is clearly in front of us, Sauber for sure, Williams is in another league and then the top four, so there are not many teams behind us at the moment. To be 10th and to score one point is a good result, but we need to get better for Mexico.

"On paper, I think Mexico and Las Vegas are the worst of the remaining tracks, and Brazil and Qatar may be the best, so if we score a point or two in Mexico, that will be very welcome."