Verstappen's Challenges: A Closer Look at His Recent Struggles
For the first time in his racing career, Max Verstappen finds himself in an unusual predicament as he has not secured a victory in his last three races. The Hungarian Grand Prix presented yet another challenging chapter for the Dutchman, where he could only manage a fifth-place finish.
The race in Hungary was particularly grueling for Verstappen, who faced both on-track collisions and strategy mishaps that hampered his performance. These complications led to a significant loss in track position during crucial pit stops, losing ground to rivals like Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Despite these setbacks, Verstappen still holds a formidable 76-point lead in the championship, a testament to his consistency throughout the season.
Red Bull's efforts to bolster Verstappen's RB20 with new upper bodywork and a revised front wing in Hungary seemed promising but were insufficient to clinch a victory. Verstappen himself acknowledged the improvements with a candid assessment: "For sure the upgrades work, but we're still not first, right? So we need more. It's as simple as that."
Looking ahead, Spa-Francorchamps is expected to be a more favorable venue for Red Bull. The team and Verstappen both hope that the car will perform better on the iconic Belgian circuit. Reflecting on his recent performances, Verstappen admitted that he has been pushing harder than he did last year but is not seeing the desired results. "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 remarked.
The tension within the Red Bull camp was palpable during the Hungarian Grand Prix, with Verstappen expressing frustration over the team radio. "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---," he vented after a series of less-than-ideal strategic calls from his team. Team Principal Christian Horner later clarified the context, stating, "GP at that point wasn't referring to Max; he was referring to others on the radio complaining about penalties."
Despite these internal pressures, Horner remains steadfast in his belief that the team has more performance to unlock. "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," Horner asserted. This optimistic outlook is a sign that Red Bull is far from giving up on the season.
Verstappen, in his characteristic upfront manner, has not shied away from addressing the need for better coordination within the team. "I already said yesterday maybe some people are not on the same wavelength," he pointed out, marking a call for a more unified approach. He elaborated on his stance, stating, "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." Verifying his commitment to transparent communication, Verstappen concluded, "If some people don't like that, then they can stay home."
As the team prepares for the upcoming race at Spa-Francorchamps, all eyes will be on Verstappen and Red Bull to see if they can recalibrate and return to their winning ways. With a combination of strategic refinement and technical upgrades, the hope is that Verstappen will once again find himself on the top step of the podium.