Max Verstappen secured a second-place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix, a result he indicated was unexpected given the performance of his Red Bull car. Lando Norris of McLaren claimed victory, with Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes completing the podium.
Verstappen’s weekend at the Hungaroring was marked by significant car issues, particularly during Saturday’s qualifying session. He experienced a spin at the final corner in Q3, which he attributed to a severe loss of aerodynamic grip.
Following the qualifying incident, Verstappen communicated over team radio that his car was ‘completely broken aerodynamically’ and becoming ‘worse and worse’. He described the session as ‘a joke’ due to the car’s handling.
The four-time world champion clarified that the problem was not tyre degradation but rather ‘car degradation’. He noted that the RB22’s performance deteriorated progressively, making it increasingly difficult to control with each lap.
Verstappen detailed issues including aerodynamic losses, excessive rear instability, and a lack of rear grip, which rendered the car ‘undriveable’. He stated that the car’s turn-in was ‘non-existent in the rear’.
Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché acknowledged the team’s struggles, admitting the car was ‘not quick enough’ and that both Verstappen and teammate Isack Hadjar faced significant balance problems throughout the weekend.
Despite qualifying sixth, Verstappen started the race from fourth position due to grid penalties issued to other drivers. Lewis Hamilton received a three-place penalty for impeding Oscar Piastri in Q3. Kimi Antonelli also incurred a three-place grid penalty for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags following Verstappen’s spin.
During the race, Verstappen described ‘80% of the race’ as unenjoyable, highlighting the ongoing challenges with the car’s behaviour. His ability to secure second place was a notable recovery given the reported difficulties.
Oscar Piastri, who initially led the race, retired after a gearbox failure, following contact with Carlos Sainz. Lewis Hamilton, who crossed the line fourth, was demoted to sixth due to a five-second penalty for pit lane speeding.
Verstappen has consistently voiced concerns about the RB22 this season, indicating a pattern of different, unexplainable issues arising each weekend. He expressed frustration that the team often identifies the cause only after the performance impact has occurred.
‘The weekend in general has been difficult, but when, instead of the tyres degrading, your car is degrading, then you have a big problem,’ Verstappen stated.
This ongoing situation presents a challenge for Red Bull Racing as they aim to provide Verstappen with a consistently competitive car.
