Verstappen delivers damning Red Bull assessment after qualifying struggle

Max Verstappen has admitted to being “frustrated” following qualifying at the Hungaroring after being bested by McLaren.

Verstappen is due to start Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix from third on the grid behind the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Red Bull entered the race weekend with a high-downforce configuration upgrade attached to the Dutchman’s car.

However, it did not help lift the three-time F1 champion to what could have been his ninth pole position of the year, instead leaving him disgruntled after the session.

“I’m really frustrated, because it’s all just not good enough,” Verstappen told Viaplay. 

“In itself I don’t think there was that much wrong with my lap, but the car is just not good enough, too sensitive and also really too slow.

“[The fact] someone then gets in my way in the last corner is annoying, but in the end that doesn’t make a big difference. If you are fast enough, you are always there.”

Verstappen predicts grand prix challenge

Verstappen did not take to the track when the red flag for a Yuki Tsunoda crash was lifted towards the end of Q3. His third-place result, though, went unchallenged.

Looking ahead to the grand prix, Verstappen suggested McLaren holds the upper hand across a race stint.

“McLaren is normally faster during the race as well, so I don’t think we will suddenly be faster during the race,” he said.

“All that team play really doesn’t matter to me. If you are faster you overtake them, so then they can play a team game but it won’t matter.

“But anyway I don’t feel like we’re faster at the moment, so I’m really not happy about it either. I think I have that right because it will be another long season this way.”