Max Verstappen’s recent races have been notably challenging, marking a sharp contrast to his usual dominance. The last three Grand Prix have seen the Red Bull ace missing out on victory, a streak that continued with his fifth-place finish in the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Verstappen’s performance in Hungary was marred by a collision-induced strategy issue, complicating his race further. Despite these hurdles, he still holds a commanding 76-point lead in the championship, showcasing the buffer his earlier season successes have provided.
Technical Upgrades and Strategy Missteps
In Hungary, Red Bull introduced significant updates to Verstappen’s RB20, including new upper bodywork and a revised front wing. However, despite these upgrades, the team could not secure a top podium finish. Verstappen succinctly put it, ”For sure the upgrades work, but we're still not first, right? So we need more. It's as simple as that.”
During the race, Verstappen lost track position to competitors such as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc due to strategic missteps during pit stops. This mismanagement on track positions proved consequential, with Verstappen openly expressing his frustrations over 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 fumed.
Team principal Christian Horner sought to contextualize these frustrations, indicating that the tension was a reflection of the competitive nature of the sport. "GP at that point wasn't referring to Max; he was referring to others on the radio complaining about penalties," Horner clarified.
Pushing Harder but Not Getting Results
Verstappen has acknowledged that he is pushing harder than he did last year but does not feel that it is translating into better lap times. “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 said.
Similarly, Horner emphasized the need for the team to improve and expand their car's performance window. "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 commented.
Looking Ahead to Spa-Francorchamps
Despite these recent challenges, there is a collective sense within Red Bull that the upcoming race at Spa-Francorchamps could offer a better platform for success. The strategic missteps in Hungary have been an area of intense scrutiny within the team, which Verstappen candidly noted. “We didn't have the pace to fight McLaren today but then I think we could still have had a P3," he reflected.
Team Dynamics and Communication
Beyond the technical and strategic concerns, there is an apparent need for greater harmony within the team. Verstappen has hinted at this, saying, "I already said yesterday maybe some people are not on the same wavelength." His candidness also extended to the issue of vocal criticism via the team radio, arguing, "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, "If some people don't like that, then they can stay home."
As Red Bull regroups and prepares for the next challenge, the focus will undoubtedly be on translating their car upgrades and strategy improvements into tangible results. Spa-Francorchamps presents an opportunity to right the wrongs of Hungary and reinforce Verstappen's robust championship lead.