Max Verstappen Faces Challenges But Stays Focused on Improvement
Max Verstappen, the current championship leader, has experienced a challenging series of races, failing to secure a win in his last three outings. The most recent race, the Hungarian Grand Prix, saw Verstappen finish in fifth place, a result hindered by collision-induced strategy issues.
Despite these obstacles, Verstappen maintains a commanding 76-point lead in the championship standings, a testament to his strong performances earlier in the season. However, the Hungarian Grand Prix highlighted areas that require attention. The Red Bull team introduced new upper bodywork and a revised front wing on Verstappen's RB20 in Hungary, yet these upgrades were not enough to claim victory.
During the race, Verstappen lost track position to competitors such as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc during pit stops, which played a significant role in his placement. Reflecting on the race, Verstappen stated, "We didn't have the pace to fight McLaren today, but then I think we could still have had a P3."
Frustration was evident in Verstappen’s radio communications. At one point, he candidly expressed, "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---." The driver did not shy away from criticizing his team’s strategy and highlighting the miscommunication, saying, "I already said yesterday maybe some people are not on the same wavelength."
Despite the setback, Verstappen remains optimistic about the upgrades to the car. He acknowledged, "For sure the upgrades work, but we're still not first, right? So we need more. It's as simple as that." This sentiment was echoed by Christian Horner, Red Bull's Team Principal, who pointed out, "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."
The collision during the Hungarian Grand Prix added to the difficulties, with Verstappen commenting, "He moved under braking." This incident not only disrupted his race strategy but also underscored the need for better coordination and execution.
In a moment of disappointment, Verstappen mentioned, "It's quite impressive how we let ourselves get undercut. It's completely f---ed my race." Christian Horner later clarified that Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen's race engineer, was not referring to Verstappen but others on the radio who were complaining about penalties.
Verstappen expressed his determination to push harder than ever before, yet acknowledged that achieving great lap times has become more challenging, stating, "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."
Despite the criticism, Verstappen remains unapologetic about his vocal expressions on the radio, asserting, "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." He added defiantly, "If some people don't like that, then they can stay home."
Looking ahead to Spa-Francorchamps, a venue that’s expected to be more favorable for Red Bull, Verstappen and his team are focused on refining their approach and extracting more performance from the car. As the championship battle continues, the ability of Verstappen and Red Bull to address these issues will be crucial in maintaining their lead and returning to winning form.