Max Verstappen has expressed that “it’s clear” that Red Bull will not win another Formula 1 race this season, after qualifying eighth for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman could not extract anymore from his RB21 in Q3 at the Hungaroring, ending up over three tenths off Charles Leclerc’s pole position time.
Verstappen was ultimately just one tenth ahead of former team-mate Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls, and will line up behind the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto.
The reigning World Champion had previously deemed the RB21 “undriveable” after a dismal run of laps in free practice on Friday, and it appeared that the Milton Keynes-based squad could do little to remedy the situation.
“We’ve tried a lot of different things, but at the moment nothing is working,” Verstappen said. “Of course, I have some ideas, but I can’t always talk about them publicly.
“We’ll just have to wait and analyse everything after the weekend.”
Verstappen indicated that he is nonplussed about the situation, given that he is, in his mind, out of the race to retain his title.
“In the end, it doesn’t hurt that much now because we’re not really fighting for anything anymore,” he continued.
“I always try to do my best and pick up a few highlights this year, like the sprint win in Spa. But this weekend, unfortunately, nothing is working.”
Verstappen suspects ‘fundamental’ issue with Red Bull car
Verstappen noted the downturn in performance compared to 12 months ago when he qualified third and offered no excuse for Red Bull’s disappointing showing.
“Last year we qualified third here, only four thousandths away from pole, so it wasn’t that difficult back then,” he explained.
“I’m not blaming the track at all. There’s just something fundamentally wrong this weekend.”
When asked if the RB21 was capable of winning another one of the remaining 10 Grands Prix, Verstappen was less than confident.
“No, not the way things are going right now,” he answered. “That’s just the way it is. It’s clear.”
Despite going from four straight World Championships, winning a huge haul of races along the way, Verstappen has appeared somewhat calm about the situation, and continued to be so, reasoning that the situation is largely out of his control.
“There’s nothing I can do about it,” he concluded. “I could get angry, but that won’t make the car any faster.”
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