Max Verstappen claims that Pink Bull’s lack of tempo forward of the Hungarian Grand Prix is “a little bit of a thriller in the meanwhile” having registered his worst Qualifying efficiency of the season.
The four-time and reigning World Champion will begin eighth for Sunday’s 70-lap race having struggled for grip all weekend on the Hungaroring with Pink Bull’s RB21.
Verstappen claimed that though Red Bull often struggles on Friday earlier than turning it round for Saturday operating, that was not the case in Budapest regardless of solely ending 0.356s behind shock polesitter Charles Leclerc.
“We did not appear to search out it. We tried quite a bit as a group and sadly nothing actually helped our steadiness,” stated Verstappen when requested if there had been a efficiency enhance in a single day.
“It is actually tough to elucidate how we out of the blue simply this weekend have plenty of difficulties with the automobile. Simply no grip on the entrance, within the rear, tough to steadiness it out.
“It’s kind of of a thriller in the meanwhile. Simply the entire weekend off the tempo.”
Workforce mate Yuki Tsunoda additionally struggled, failing to maneuver past Q1 regardless of solely being simply over one-tenth slower than Verstappen on the similar stage in Qualifying.
The Japanese driver, who will begin P16 for the race, additionally believed that not optimising his operating throughout FP3 performed a job in advancing additional up the grid when the margins stay so small in 2025.
“I feel general this weekend we have struggled as a group,” he stated. “In that scenario, I needed to maximise efficiency however we’re simply gradual and in addition FP3 preparation wasn’t good in any respect which was in our management fully.
“We fully missed that, particularly combating in a good session like this, all these items rely. It will probably occur like that.
“[The car] is simply sliding round. I feel just about that is it. The grip we must always usually get is just not there and doubtless one thing we’re lacking fully.”
