Source – Formula1.com
Throughout the Budapest Hungarian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was not shy about discussing his thoughts on the team’s chosen approach, the performance of his car, and the driving of his competitors.
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner swiftly dispelled any rumors of a rift within the team after Max Verstappen’s heated radio outbursts during the Hungarian Grand Prix. The drama unfolded with some eyebrow-raising exchanges between Verstappen and his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, but Horner reassured the media that these issues would be handled privately.
Verstappen’s frustrations were evident from the first corner of the opening lap when he felt he was pushed wide by Lando Norris. Running in second, the team instructed him to yield the position to avoid a potential penalty. Verstappen’s annoyance grew as he was undercut twice by Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes, on a day when track position proved crucial. Late contact with Hamilton further compounded his troubles, dropping him from fourth to fifth at the finish line.
Horner, speaking after the race, downplayed concerns about Verstappen’s approach and team communications. “At the start, he made a position. We felt it was a racing incident with three cars into the corner and naturally running out of road,” Horner explained. “We thought it looked okay, but once it goes to the stewards, you’re likely to get a penalty, so we conceded the place back to Lando.”
Red Bull’s strategy involved extending Verstappen’s stint to gain an overlap advantage, which worked well on hard tires where he was competitive against the McLarens. However, Verstappen got stuck behind Hamilton in dirty air as Hamilton’s performance waned. “If we’d have got past Lewis at that point, we might have had a go at one of the McLarens,” Horner noted. “In the final stint, he picked off [Charles] Leclerc, and a racing incident with Lewis caused damage, making it a frustrating race.”
Horner acknowledged that the team underestimated the impact of dirty air, which significantly affected their performance. He also addressed Verstappen’s heated radio exchanges, attributing them to the driver’s frustration. “Max was frustrated, which you can understand,” Horner said. “He has a very direct line of communication with his engineer, so it’s something they’ll discuss between them.”
Highlighting the long-standing relationship between Verstappen and Lambiase, Horner emphasized that the team would review their race performance and strategy in private. “They’ve been together for eight years, and there are things we could have done better in the race today that we’ll talk about as a team,” Horner stated. “Everyone sees we need to find more performance, and everyone is working hard to achieve that.”
When questioned about Verstappen’s pre-race preparations, Horner affirmed his confidence in the driver’s judgment. “He knows exactly what is required of him in a Grand Prix, and we trust his judgment on that,” he concluded.
As Red Bull navigates the complexities of the season, the focus remains on improving performance and maintaining strong internal communication, ensuring the team is poised for success in the races to come.
