Max Verstappen secured a second-place finish at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, a result he publicly stated he did not fully comprehend given the performance of his Red Bull car. Sky F1 commentator David Croft has suggested that Verstappen’s radio communications during the race may have been intended as a message to rival team McLaren.
The Hungarian Grand Prix, held on Sunday, July 26, 2026, saw Lando Norris claim victory for McLaren, marking their first win of the current season. Verstappen’s podium finish was his second consecutive, following a third-place in Belgium.
Despite the strong result, Verstappen expressed significant frustration with his RB22 throughout the weekend. During qualifying, he described the car as ‘completely broken’ over team radio, citing issues with damping failure and gearbox shifting.
Red Bull mechanics undertook a rapid 20-minute repair on a damaged floor component before the race began, under Parc Fermé regulations. Verstappen later admitted that the car continued to challenge him in every corner during the Grand Prix.
A notable point of contention for Verstappen during the race involved lapped traffic. Untelevised radio exchanges revealed his anger towards Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad.
Verstappen branded Lawson and Lindblad ‘morons’ for their perceived failure to yield under blue flags while battling for position. This frustration with backmarkers was not isolated, as McLaren’s Oscar Piastri also encountered issues, making contact with Carlos Sainz and expressing similar sentiments over his team radio.
McLaren’s success at the Hungaroring was partly attributed to a new floor upgrade introduced for the event. This victory marked McLaren’s third consecutive win at the Hungarian circuit.
Currently, Verstappen is positioned sixth in the Drivers’ Championship standings, trailing championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 110 points. Red Bull Racing holds fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, more than 200 points behind Mercedes.
Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull includes a performance-based exit clause. His current championship standing means the option to depart the team is available, with a decision reportedly due by October.
David Croft has previously commented on Verstappen’s radio communications, notably linking his irritation during a past Hungarian Grand Prix to his sim racing activities. Croft has also praised Verstappen for his consistent and ‘brave’ criticism of the 2026 Formula 1 regulations.
