Max Verstappen has experienced a challenging period in his recent races, failing to secure a victory in his last three outings. The Dutch driver’s latest struggle was evident during the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he finished in fifth place, a position well below his and Red Bull Racing's expectations.
During the Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen found himself hampered by a collision-induced strategy issue, which significantly affected his track position. Despite these setbacks, he still maintains a substantial 76-point lead in the championship, underscoring both his skill and the car's potential when everything aligns.
Red Bull had introduced new upper bodywork and a revised front wing on Verstappen's RB20 for the Hungarian race, in an effort to improve performance. However, these upgrades did not yield the desired results. "For sure the upgrades work, but we're still not first, right? So we need more. It's as simple as that," Verstappen remarked candidly post-race.
Spa-Francorchamps is on the horizon, with expectations running high for a better performance from Red Bull. However, the Hungarian GP highlighted some of the key areas that need improvement. Verstappen notably lost track position to major competitors like Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc during crucial pit stops, underscoring strategic errors that compromised his race.
Verstappen has been vocal about his frustrations, pointing out the need for a more harmonious approach within the team. "I already said yesterday maybe some people are not on the same wavelength," he stated, suggesting internal misalignments might be at play. Further emphasizing this, he added, "No mate, don't give me that s--- now. You guys gave me this s--- strategy, OK? I'm trying to rescue what's left. F---," during a heated radio exchange captured mid-race.
Despite these challenges, Verstappen remains optimistic about the potential of the car and the team. Christian Horner, Red Bull’s Team Principal, echoed this sentiment, asserting, "I think we've got more performance to bring. We need to expand that operating window for the car, so when the car is in the right window it qualifies on pole by four tenths like it did in Austria."
Max Verstappen’s admission that he is pushing harder than last year but is not reaping the same rewards speaks volumes about the current state of the Red Bull car. "I feel like I probably push harder than I did last year, but it's just not coming anymore to have these great lap times. So I guess it just means that we are a bit slower. So we have work to do. Simple as that," he reflected.
Apart from performance woes, Verstappen also encountered a significant on-track issue, expressing frustration about being undercut during the race. "It's quite impressive how we let ourselves get undercut. It's completely f---ed my race," he stated bluntly. This undercut allowed rivals to gain a positional advantage, further derailing his race.
Addressing his team’s performance and the criticism faced over radio communications, Verstappen defended his approach. "I don't think we need to apologize; I just think we need to do a better job. I don't know why people think that you cannot be vocal on the radio. I mean, this is a sport." His forthrightness extends to his view on criticism from outsiders, with Verstappen asserting, "If some people don't like that, then they can stay home."
The path ahead requires Red Bull to effectively translate their car's potential into consistent results on the track. As Christian Horner notes, there is a need to tap into the performance that saw them dominate in earlier races. However, the team must also address strategic missteps and internal alignments to fully unlock their racing prowess.
Upgrades at Spa-Francorchamps may provide a better assessment of Red Bull's developments and whether the team can harmonize their approach to recapture their dominant form. For Verstappen, the goal remains clear: to convert the underlying potential into tangible victories and maintain his stronghold on the championship.