Max Verstappen could only manage 9th place at the Hungarian GP, in a race where the RB21’s limitations were made painfully clear.
Unlike McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari – who separated themselves from the midfield – Verstappen made little progress during the 70 lap race in Budapest.
According to Helmut Marko, Red Bull are optimistic about rectifying the RB21’s newest problems.
Red Bull “think we have found the cause” of poor performance
Since the very start of this weekend’s action, Red Bull have been unusually off the pace.
A combination of poor balance and a lack of grip have prevented the Milton Keynes outfit from challenging at the front.
Even VCARB, Red Bull’s second team, showed greater potential – both in qualifying and the race.
This was demonstrated in Verstappen’s final stint when he failed to overtake Liam Lawson, despite the advantage of fresher tyres.
There has been no shortage of discussion about the Austrian squad’s lack of progress over the last eighteen months.
In fact, Red Bull were the only team whose best 2025 qualifying time at the Hungaroring was slower than last year’s.
Considering that several updates have arrived in the last two races, this lack of performance is especially concerning.
It would be unfair to suggest that Verstappen still saw himself as a Championship contender before this weekend. The 27-year-old dismissed a title charge some time ago.
However, even the Dutchman wouldn’t have expected the struggles his team experienced throughout the last three days.
Speaking post-race, Helmut Marko was hopeful that Red Bull won’t have another weekend like this one in the remaining 10 rounds:
“I think we found the cause this weekend,” Erik van Haren quotes Marko as saying.
“I don’t expect it to happen like this in the races after the summer break.
“Max caught up with Lawson quickly after his second stop. But then the car started sliding, and he was constantly experiencing understeer and then oversteer.
“After the summer, we have to keep learning and will make a few minor updates.
“We have to try to get back to being number two behind McLaren.”
McLaren beyond reach as Red Bull work to limit the damage
For almost half a decade, Max Verstappen has been the benchmark in Formula 1 – both in terms of accolades and individual performance.
On Friday, therefore, it was a significant moment when the Dutchman set third place – behind the McLaren’s – as his realistic target.
Both the 4-time Champion and his personnel are resigned to the reality of this year’s title picture.
McLaren will almost certainly emerge victorious in both Championships, and catching the MCL39 in the second half of the season is off the cards.
Red Bull have failed to match the Woking team’s rate of development for the last eighteen months. Wasting any further resources in catching McLaren, with the 2026 regulations ever-closer, would be a strategic blunder.
Laurent Mekies’ team know this, especially since they need a competitive package next year to prevent Verstappen from leaving Milton Keynes after next year.
In this context, then, Red Bull’s next four months will be dedicated to damage limitation.
Main photo: Mark Thompson/Getty Images (via Red Bull content pool)
