Max Verstappen lamented the regression Pink Bull has taken in comparison with final yr's Hungarian Grand Prix as he certified solely eighth for Sunday's Components 1 contest – claiming “nothing works”.
The reigning, four-time world champion certified third on the Hungaroring final yr, however has been removed from the frontrunners this weekend and was three-tenths off polesitter Charles Leclerc in Q3.
His poor qualifying wasn't a shock both, as Pink Bull team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was eradicated in Q1 and Verstappen didn't end a follow session above ninth in Budapest.
“We had been much more aggressive again then,” stated Verstappen. “This weekend, already from lap one, it simply felt off. We threw the automotive round loads, nothing actually gave a route.
“That's the greatest drawback. Usually, while you change loads on the facet of it, it's going to at all times provide you with positives or negatives. Now, nothing works. It is like going round in circles. Nothing provides you any type of thought of what to do.”
Then, when requested if Pink Bull has recognized learn how to repair the issue, Verstappen replied: “No, clearly not. In any other case we might have modified it already. One way or the other, this weekend, nothing appears to work.”
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
It's for that motive Verstappen was content material with reaching Q3, including to a disappointing season for the reigning champion who's third within the standings and 81 factors off chief Oscar Piastri.
“Wanting on the complete weekend, I believe we're blissful to be in Q3,” stated the Dutchman. “As a result of I have been extra exterior of the highest 10 than in.
“It has been troublesome this complete weekend. No grip, entrance and rear. It was the identical in qualifying. For me, it was probably not a shock. I simply drove to what I already really feel the entire weekend.”
Though the 2025 season has not been Verstappen's most profitable, he has nonetheless been within the battle at instances, and loved moments like beating the title-contending McLaren drivers to a dash win final weekend in Belgium.
So his Hungarian GP qualifying consequence left Verstappen shocked by how a lot Pink Bull has struggled this weekend, with Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Aston Martin and Sauber all beating him.
“No, not like this,” stated Verstappen, when requested if he anticipated these struggles. “I by no means thought that it could be the strongest weekend for us right here. However I believe nobody anticipated it.
“We're not preventing anymore in a championship battle. You simply attempt to have good weekends right here and there. This has clearly been a foul one thus far.”
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Photograph by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
However when discussing what he can obtain in Sunday's race, Verstappen identified he wasn't the one driver out of place with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton down in twelfth on the grid.
“There are a couple of automobiles in entrance of me that I can possibly battle with a bit of bit,” stated Verstappen, who will share row 4 with Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto.
“But in addition Lewis remains to be a bit additional down the highway, which I believe he should not be there. So he'll come via a bit. We'll see what we are able to do tomorrow.”
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