After narrowly losing pole position to Lewis Hamilton by a mere 0.003 seconds, Max Verstappen voiced dissatisfaction about the performance of his RB19. He mentioned feeling as if the car was “all over the place” and battled with a lack of control at the wheel.
However, Verstappen’s outcome in the actual race was considerably more favorable. He decisively won in Hungary, leaving Lando Norris trailing by a hefty 33.7 seconds.
Upon reviewing his performance, Verstappen insinuated that the problems encountered during car preparation for qualifying inadvertently resulted in a more optimized baseline for the actual race. He emphasized that there was no intention to give up one-lap speed.
“In an attempt to fine-tune the car, we experimented with various setup and qualifying approaches. Apparently, these alterations significantly benefited us today,” Verstappen clarified while addressing a question about his mixed feelings regarding the car setup posed by F1 Flow.com.
“However, despite testing numerous changes throughout the weekend, they never seemed to deliver on a single lap.
“It’s plausible that we were unable to properly optimize our tyres for a single lap because, during the race, everything runs hotter for an extended duration.
“A different balance is likely needed for such conditions. Yesterday, I was predominantly understeering. However, with today’s increase in both ambient and track temperatures, the conditions probably played to my advantage, hence the better balance,” he added.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st place, on the podium
Photo by: Steven Tee / F1 Flow Images
“On days like these, any type of tyre seems to work. Even if we had decided to use a soft tyre towards the end, it would have been acceptable,” he added.
When asked to comment on his successful start, where he swiftly overtook Hamilton at the first corner to take the lead, Verstappen recounted feeling the car gripping well as he released the clutch, without any wheelspin.
He made a light-hearted reference to his slightly sluggish start at the British Grand Prix two weeks earlier, jesting it was refreshing to have a good start “for once”.
“It was an almost perfect day. We had a good start, managed our tyres efficiently, and progressively extended our lead with every stint. The car was genuinely a pleasure to drive today.
“From the moment I released the clutch, I felt as if I didn’t experience any wheelspin, unlike at Silverstone.
“I got a good launch and knew that I had the inside advantage, allowing me to brake quite late for turn one.
“After successfully navigating turn one, I maintained my momentum through turn two and gradually built up my pace from there.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Verstappen Hungary F1 Victory
Did Max Verstappen win the Hungary F1 race?
Yes, Max Verstappen won the Hungary F1 race, beating Lando Norris with a significant 33.7-second advantage.
What was Verstappen’s issue during the Hungary F1 qualifying?
Verstappen experienced issues with the setup of his RB19, which he said felt “all over the place.” He also struggled with a lack of feeling at the wheel.
Did the qualifying issues affect Verstappen’s race performance?
Surprisingly, Verstappen suggested that the difficulties during the car setup for qualifying actually resulted in a better baseline for the race.
What did Verstappen comment about the car setup for the race?
Verstappen mentioned that while the team experimented with various setup approaches that did not seem to benefit one-lap speed, these adjustments seemed to have significantly benefited the car’s performance during the race.
How did Verstappen feel about his start in the Hungary F1 race?
Verstappen was pleased with his start, saying the car immediately gripped as soon as he released the clutch, without any wheelspin. He also joked about his good start being a pleasant change from his slower start at the British Grand Prix two weeks prior.
How did Verstappen describe the performance of his car during the race?
Verstappen described the car as genuinely enjoyable to drive during the race. He also noted that any type of tyre seemed to work well, hinting at the car’s flexibility under different conditions.
More about Verstappen Hungary F1 Victory
- Max Verstappen’s profile on F1
- Red Bull Racing’s official website
- Recap of Hungary F1 Race
- F1 Hungary Race Results
- Insight into F1 Car Setup
6 comments
This just shows how unpredictable F1 can be. One minute Verstappen’s strugglin with setup, the next he’s 33.7 sec ahead of Norris. That’s racing!
Wow, Verstappen pulled off a stunner in Hungary, didn’t he? Not often you see a driver turn a qualifying problem into a crushing victory. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons!
Interesting insight into how car setup impacts race performance. Understeering one day, winning by a mile the next. That’s F1 for ya!
im a big fan of max and this victory was epic! just goes to show you that you can never count out verstappen, no matter what happens in qualifying.
this race was off the charts! what a turnaround for Max. one of those days when everything clicks together… just perfect.
max was just on another level in Hungary, made Hamilton look ordinary. And his comment about good start for once, lol, he does have a sense of humor.