Liam Lawson issues Racing Bulls target after 'very positive' development

Liam Lawson has called on Racing Bulls to sustain its strong current level of performance for the remainder of the F1 season after finishing best of the rest at the Hungaroring.

The New Zealander's eighth-place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix, coupled with Arvid Lindblad coming home in P10, has leapfrogged the Faenza-based squad above Alpine in the fight for fifth in the F1 constructors' championship.

With the French team going scoreless in Budapest, the Red Bull sister operation is now five points clear in the standings, and Lawson has implored the Alan Permane-led outfit to keep up its impressive formbook.

Racing Bulls has reeled in Alpine over the first half of the season, but was anticipating a more fiercely fought challenge from Audi at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with the fledgling team anticipated to lead the midfield at the twisty, technical Hungaroring.

Whilst the first Audi power unit is underpowered compared to its rivals, the R26 chassis is widely considered to be the closest to F1's top teams, which should have set the German marque up for success in Budapest.

However, it had to settle for just ninth position, courtesy of Nico Hulkenberg, who was sandwiched between the two VCARB 03s, and was only able to pass Lindblad during the blue flag chaos late in the 70-lap race.

When Audi's dashed high hopes of the trip to the high-downforce circuit were put to Lawson, who now sits ninth in the drivers' standings, one point ahead of Pierre Gasly, he addressed what the development meant for the wider picture.

"Yeah, this was definitely one where we thought they would be the strongest [team in the midfield], and so to be on top of them here is very, very positive," the 24-year-old told media, including RacingNews365.

"Obviously, going into the second half of the year, it's put us in front of Alpine as well, which is what we wanted to do before the break.

"Now we need to try and sustain it for the rest of the year."