Max Verstappen of Red Bull has attributed his recent spin during qualifying to what he described as “car degradation.” The incident occurred in the final corner of his last qualifying lap, resulting in him starting sixth on the grid for the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Verstappen, a four-time world champion, expressed his frustration following the session, stating that the entire weekend had been challenging, particularly in qualifying where the car’s performance deteriorated. He noted that the issue was not tire degradation but rather a decline in the car’s overall condition, making it increasingly difficult to drive.
Challenges with Car Balance and Consistency
The lack of consistency in the problems faced by Red Bull has made them difficult to resolve, according to Verstappen. He highlighted that different issues arise constantly, which he considers the biggest problem at present. After the qualifying spin, Verstappen communicated to his team that the car felt “completely broken aerodynamically” and described the situation as a “joke” and a “shit weekend.”
Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché acknowledged that drivers were not satisfied with the balance of the car. He explained that low grip conditions, combined with dust and bumps on the track, contributed to the difficulties. A significant shift in wind conditions during the afternoon further complicated matters, making it a tough session for the drivers. Waché also mentioned that the car needed to be run quite stiff, leading to a sensation similar to previous generation ground effect cars. He noted that when cars are operating at their limit, even minor disturbances can disrupt their balance.
This qualifying session marks the third time in the last four rounds that Verstappen has spun during a competitive session. Previously, he crashed in Q3 at the Red Bull Ring and spun out during the final laps of the British Grand Prix.
Team’s Efforts and Future Outlook
Laurent Mekies, Red Bull team principal, offered reassurance to Verstappen after the qualifying incident, acknowledging the challenging conditions and expressing the team’s commitment to addressing the issues for the upcoming race. Verstappen, however, maintained that the car was “completely undriveable” due to massive degradation during qualifying.
Following Friday’s practice sessions at the Hungaroring, Waché had already admitted that Red Bull was not close to the pace of the frontrunners, specifically mentioning Ferrari. He revealed that neither driver was content with the balance of the RB22 after the initial two practice sessions. Lewis Hamilton had topped the timesheets in FP2, with Ferrari securing a one-two finish, while Verstappen was nearly seven tenths of a second behind.
Waché identified the lack of balance in the RB22 as the primary challenge, with both drivers struggling for comfort. He noted that stronger wind conditions exacerbated the situation, making the car’s behavior unpredictable with even small adjustments. The Frenchman conceded that Red Bull was not quick enough and that there were no immediate solutions. He emphasized the need for methodical work and gradual improvements rather than expecting rapid gains.
Verstappen himself stated that Friday was a difficult day, despite finishing third in FP1 and fourth in FP2. He stressed that the results did not accurately reflect the challenges experienced inside the cockpit. The main issue, according to Verstappen, was finding a consistent balance with the RB22, as the team struggled to keep the car in its optimal operating window for clean and predictable laps. With Verstappen starting from the third row and teammate Isack Hadjar qualifying eighth, Red Bull faces a significant challenge for the Grand Prix.
Under parc fermé conditions, mechanics have limited scope for changes to the suspension and aerodynamic balance before the race. The team will need to rely heavily on strategy and tire management to aim for a podium finish against the pace of competitors like McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes. The 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix grid was set following the qualifying session.
Source: racefans.net
