The Red Bull team finds itself in a somewhat uncertain position heading into the Hungarian Grand Prix. With Max Verstappen starting behind Lewis Hamilton and the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the Bulls will need to tackle the challenges posed by the Hungaroring with determination.
During Saturday’s qualifying session, Max Verstappen, the current leader in the Drivers’ Championship, secured a second-place starting position. However, he faces stiff competition from the McLaren pair, who start the race on the second row. Meanwhile, Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Pérez, managed to reach Q3 for the first time since the Miami Grand Prix, but finished ninth.
The Red Bull team acknowledged their difficulties in extracting the maximum potential from their car throughout the weekend. Verstappen struggled to find the right balance and expressed his frustration with his qualifying performance. Team Principal Christian Horner also observed that Verstappen appeared uncomfortable with the set-up, particularly during shorter runs. Pérez acknowledged a mistake during Q3 but considered his overall performance a step in the right direction.
Despite their challenges in qualifying, both Verstappen and Pérez, along with Horner, remain optimistic about their race pace and the possibility of a podium finish. The team believes that their car’s performance in the long runs indicates their potential competitiveness on race day. The higher temperatures expected on Sunday make the race even more intriguing, and the Bulls are confident in their ability to capitalize on their strong race car.
Sunday holds significant importance for Red Bull, as they aim to extend their impressive winning streak, which currently stands at 11 consecutive victories since the 2022 season finale. This achievement would match the record set by McLaren at the start of the 1988 season when they won all but one race.
The Business Press 