Verstappen, the reigning world champion, dominated the first run of Q3 and led the timesheets, but failed to capitalize on his final critical attempt as Hamilton surpassed him by a mere 0.003 seconds to seize the grid’s top position.
Verstappen reflected on his inability to maintain his pole position streak, which has been unbroken since the Monaco Grand Prix. He attributed this to an absence of satisfactory balance during the qualifying sessions.
“I’ve been battling all weekend to achieve a good balance,” the Dutchman explained. “Each session has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows.
During today’s qualifying round, I found it extremely challenging in Q1/Q2 to gain confidence and really attack the corners.
I thought my initial run in Q3 was rather successful. However, the second run didn’t feel right.
In an attempt to push a bit further, I found the car unstable – either losing the rear or the front. Despite coming in second, I believe with the car we usually have, we should be leading. But it appears we haven’t been on track so far.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19
Photo credit: Zak Mauger / F1 Flow Images
This weekend, Red Bull rolled out a significant update to its RB19, incorporating new sidepods and floor revisions. However, Verstappen dismissed the idea that these changes had contributed to Saturday’s performance.
“I believe the update is functioning as intended, but it seems we didn’t quite manage to synergize everything from a set-up perspective,” he commented.
“I believe we’ve been somewhat disorganized today and not quite where we intended to be.”
Also read:
Hamilton’s Hungary F1 pole “feels like a first”
Norris “disappointed” to start in third place for F1 Hungarian GP
F1 Hungarian GP: Hamilton edges out Verstappen for pole by 0.003s
Despite falling behind Hamilton in the qualifying round, Verstappen remains hopeful about his car’s performance in the actual race.
“The race is expected to be quite heated, and rear tires will likely pose a challenge, but I expect things to stabilize more during the race,” he suggested.
“I just wished to experience a more enjoyable balance during the qualifying round to truly take it on.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Verstappen’s F1 Qualifying Struggles
What issue did Verstappen face in the Hungary F1 qualifying?
Verstappen faced balance issues throughout the qualifying sessions, struggling to maintain consistent performance and failing to maintain his pole position streak.
Who secured the top spot in the Hungary F1 qualifying?
Lewis Hamilton secured the top spot in the Hungary F1 qualifying, beating Verstappen by just 0.003 seconds.
What upgrade did Red Bull introduce for its RB19?
Red Bull introduced significant updates to its RB19, including new sidepods and floor revisions. However, Verstappen did not believe these upgrades significantly impacted his performance during the qualifying sessions.
How does Verstappen feel about the performance of his car for the actual race?
Despite the balance issues faced during qualifying, Verstappen remains optimistic about his car’s performance for the actual race. He expects things to settle down more during the race, although he acknowledges that the hot conditions may pose a challenge for the rear tyres.
Why does Verstappen believe he did not secure pole position?
Verstappen believes that the main reason he did not secure pole position is due to balance issues throughout the qualifying sessions. He also mentioned struggling with a lack of confidence during the qualifying rounds and feeling that they haven’t fully utilized the potential of their car.
More about Verstappen’s F1 Qualifying Struggles
- Max Verstappen’s F1 career
- Hungary F1 Qualifying Results
- Red Bull Racing RB19 Updates
- Lewis Hamilton’s pole-winning performance
- 2023 Monaco Grand Prix results
5 comments
max is still the best! So what if hamilton got the pole, it’s the race that counts.
Just .003 seconds behind Hamilton?! That’s nothing, really. Max will bounce back, watch this space.
Red Bull’s gotta get their act together, can’t waste a car that good. hoping for a better race day.
Tough luck for Max! Balance issues can be such a pain, Hope they sort it out for the race.
Man, never thought I’d see the day when Red Bull fumbles a qualifying like this. Max deserves better.