Max Verstappen’s day at the Hungarian Grand Prix was anything but smooth sailing. From the get-go, he faced challenges that sent his temper into a tailspin.
- Verstappen started from third and quickly ran into trouble when forced off track by Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
- An early penalty scare led to him surrendering his position to Norris, kicking off a frustrating race.
- Struggles with his car’s handling and strategy errors added to Verstappen’s mounting anger.
- A late-race collision with Lewis Hamilton capped off Verstappen’s day, pushing him to the limit.
When the race began, Verstappen got a great start from third but soon found himself forced off track by Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. He didn’t let that stop him, though, and managed to take second place. However, the FIA quickly announced an investigation into whether he gained an advantage by going off track, and he was advised by his engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, to let Norris pass.
Verstappen wasn’t thrilled about this and voiced his frustration over the radio, saying, “OK, so you can just drive people off the track then?” He reluctantly complied and let Norris go ahead, focusing on keeping his pace.
As the race progressed, car issues began to plague Verstappen. By Lap 19, he was complaining, “I can’t brake, I can’t enter corners. Front and rears – it’s really bad.” Despite his best efforts, he got undercut by Hamilton, which only added to his frustration.
Mid-race, tensions boiled over when Verstappen found himself unable to get past Hamilton. “I’m minus five brake bias and the thing just doesn’t f**king turn. It’s unbelievable,” he fumed. His engineer’s suggestion of switching to Mode 9 was met with a sharp, “Why? Why Mode 9, it’s s**t.” Verstappen’s discontent was clear as he realized their strategy was failing him.
The frustration hit its peak when he got a new set of tires and was instructed on strategy. “No mate, don’t give me that bulls**t now. You guys gave me this f**king strategy, OK? I’m trying to rescue what’s left,” he snapped. His attempt to chase Charles Leclerc was fierce but wasn’t enough.
Further drama ensued when Verstappen locked up and collided with Hamilton. Both cars managed to continue, but Verstappen’s frustration was evident when he reported Hamilton’s movement under braking. “It’s childish on the radio, childish,” Lambiase responded, choosing to let the stewards handle the situation.
Finishing fifth and facing a medical check post-race, Verstappen’s disdain was clear. “If they could send the medical delegate up to the stewards, maybe they can have a look if they are all okay,” he quipped sarcastically.
Verstappen’s day was a rollercoaster of emotions, leaving him less than impressed with the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Source: Planetf1
