Verstappen Fails to Reach Podium in Hungary, Blames FIA and Team Strategy
Max Verstappen finished fifth in the Hungarian Grand Prix, a disappointing result for the reigning champion. The Red Bull driver had a difficult race, struggling with car issues and a poor team strategy.
From the start, Verstappen seemed uncomfortable, expressing his frustration on the radio with his team. He was critical of the FIA’s interventions and the problems with his car. As the race wore on, his frustration grew, and he sent a message to the FIA saying, "So you can tell the FIA that this is how we’re going to race from now on. Simply by getting people off the track."
Verstappen’s teammate was also a source of frustration, with the Dutchman criticizing the strategy adopted by the team. "You guys gave me this shitty strategy, right? I’m trying to catch up on what’s missing," he said on the radio.
The main criticism Verstappen has levelled at his team is the strategy they adopted, which he believes did not give him the best chance to win. "Maybe the team, at the time, didn’t realize what they did wrong, or maybe they didn’t see that it was that severe," he said after the race.
The incident with Lewis Hamilton was a low point in the race for Verstappen. The two drivers touched while battling for position, causing Verstappen’s car to lose control and end up in the gravel. Verstappen blamed Hamilton for the incident, saying, "Hamilton strangled me to the right and I had to go to the right to avoid the collision."
The incident led to a heated exchange on the radio between Verstappen and his team, with Verstappen accusing Hamilton of moving under braking. The team told Verstappen to let the stewards deal with the incident, rather than getting involved in a radio debate.
After the race, Verstappen reflected on the difficult weekend, saying, "Today has been a very hard day." He acknowledged that the team strategy had not been perfect and that they had put themselves in a difficult position. "We had to cover the cars we were fighting with, instead of thinking we were superstars," he said.
The result was a disappointing one for Verstappen, who has struggled to match the pace of the McLarens this season. Despite his frustration, he remains determined to improve and will look to discuss the issues with his team to improve their performance.
