Max Verstappen has expressed reservations regarding his performance outlook for the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver’s caution stems from the distinct characteristics of the Hungaroring circuit, which he believes may not favour the RB22 as strongly as other venues. Robert Doornbos, a former Formula 1 driver, supports this assessment, noting the circuit’s slow and twisty nature.
The 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, the eleventh round of the current Formula 1 season, is scheduled to take place from July 24 to 26 at the Hungaroring in Budapest. This event marks the final race before the sport’s traditional summer break in August.
Verstappen recently secured a third-place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix. He attributed the outcome to unfortunate timing with a Virtual Safety Car deployment, which allowed competitors Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to execute pit stops with minimal time loss. Red Bull had reverted to an older specification rear wing for the Spa-Francorchamps event, following issues with an upgraded component that led to crashes for Verstappen in Austria and Great Britain.
The Hungaroring is known for its high-downforce demands and tight, twisting layout, frequently described as ‘Monaco without the barriers’. Overtaking opportunities are notably scarce on this circuit. Doornbos highlighted that Verstappen experienced a challenging weekend earlier this season at Monaco, another track requiring maximum downforce.
Verstappen’s Monaco Grand Prix ended prematurely with an engine failure on the opening lap, despite a second-place qualifying effort. The incident resulted in significant frustration for the four-time world champion, who was forced to retire the car. This marked a disastrous afternoon for his championship campaign.
Red Bull Racing is operating with its proprietary Red Bull-Ford power unit for the 2026 season. While initial testing indicated promising performance, the team has encountered reliability issues, including the engine failure in Monaco and the aforementioned rear wing problems.
Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies has confirmed that a resolution for the rear wing issues is expected to be implemented for the Budapest event. Mekies previously acknowledged the team’s struggles with grip at the Hungaroring during the 2025 season, underscoring a historical challenge at this circuit.
Earlier in the season, Verstappen contended with a lingering flu during pre-season testing in Barcelona. He also voiced concerns in late 2025 regarding the physical toll, specifically back and feet pain, imposed by the current generation of ground-effect cars.
The upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix presents a critical test for Red Bull and Verstappen, particularly given the circuit’s unique demands and the team’s recent performance inconsistencies. The focus remains on optimising the RB22 for high-downforce conditions and ensuring reliability.
