Verstappen shocked by Hungarian GP podium as Red Bull searches for answers

An unexpected podium for Verstappen

Max Verstappen’s second-place finish at the Hungaroring delivered a result that even the Red Bull driver struggled to explain. Speaking after the race, he admitted: “How the hell did I end up here? I was shocked, I'm actually still shocked.”

The podium was a welcome outcome, but it did little to disguise Red Bull’s underlying problems. Verstappen had battled an oversteering car throughout the weekend and again reported that he had noticed damage to his car during the race, although he did not provide further details. The result therefore reflected both his execution and the team’s ability to salvage a difficult weekend rather than a clear return to form.

The circumstances behind the finish are explored further in Verstappen reveals damage behind Hungarian GP second place.

Red Bull’s narrow operating window

Team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged that Red Bull had not given either Verstappen or Isack Hadjar a car they could confidently push. “I think we never managed to give Max and Isack [Hadjar] a car they could push with,” he said.

Mekies said the car had been more difficult to manage on Friday and Saturday, but still lacked a convincing feel on Sunday. The contrast with recent races was significant: driver feedback from Spa or Austria had suggested the car was closer to the expected performance window, whereas that was not the case in Hungary.

Yet the pace was not entirely absent. Mekies believed only Lando Norris was clearly faster than Verstappen on outright speed, adding that the Red Bull driver could have matched or beaten everyone else. For Red Bull, that suggests the current package retains potential—but only if the team can make it usable more consistently.

Championship deficit remains a concern

Mekies said Red Bull must understand why the RB22 operates so close to the edge, with performance changing sharply according to the car’s balance and conditions. Keeping the car within its window has been demanding for both drivers and the wider team over recent races.

That inconsistency has left Red Bull fourth in the constructors’ championship. The team trails Mercedes by more than 200 points, while McLaren sits only 43 points ahead in third. McLaren’s upgrade package made a significant impression in Hungary, and Mekies acknowledged the step forward after Norris won the race.

Red Bull’s second place was therefore encouraging, but not conclusive. The summer break offers the team time to identify why the RB22 remains so difficult to extract performance from before the championship resumes at Zandvoort.

An unexpected podium for Verstappen