Max Verstappen's Frustration Boils Over: "They Can All F--- Off"
Max Verstappen, known for his forthright attitude and no-nonsense approach, has once again expressed his frustration following the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Dutch driver, who has not won in his last three races, let his temper flare after finishing fifth due to a collision-induced strategy issue.
"We didn't have the pace to fight McLaren today but then I think we could still have had a P3," Verstappen bluntly remarked. However, the wrong strategy calls put him on the back foot, constantly needing to fight and overtake, but the plan didn't materialize.
Verstappen made his displeasure crystal clear over the radio, stating, "No mate, don't give me that s--- now. You guys gave me this s--- strategy, OK? I'm trying to rescue what's left. F---." This outburst reflects the young driver's mounting frustrations as he battles against the declining performance of his Red Bull car.
Despite maintaining a 76-point lead in the championship, Verstappen's usual dominant form appears to have waned. The pressure is evident, as Verstappen hinted that not all Red Bull team members shared his urgency. "I already said yesterday maybe some people are not on the same wavelength," he admitted, hinting at internal team dynamics that might be affecting their performance.
In Hungary, Red Bull introduced new upper bodywork and a revised front wing on Verstappen's RB20. However, despite these updates, Verstappen bluntly stated, "For sure the upgrades work, but we're still not first, right? So we need more. It's as simple as that."
Even though team principal Christian Horner acknowledged the car's limitations, he remains optimistic. "I think we've got more performance to bring," said Horner. "We need to expand that operating window for the car, so when the car is in the right window it qualifies on pole by four tenths like it did in Austria."
The tension was palpable during the race as Verstappen lost track position to competitors like Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc during pit stops. While the stewards noted that Hamilton had consistently taken the same racing line in previous laps, Verstappen was less than forgiving. "He moved under braking," he asserted.
Verstappen's championship aspirations are still very much alive, but the recent string of races has tested his patience. His frank exchanges with race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase also highlight the prevailing stress. Lambiase, attempting to calm Verstappen during the race, remarked, "Well, that's some gentle introduction." To which Verstappen retorted, "It's quite impressive how we let ourselves get undercut. It's completely f---ed my race."
These charged interactions aren’t new for Verstappen and Lambiase, but Christian Horner was quick to clarify that Lambiase's comments about "childish" radio exchanges were aimed at rival teams and not directed towards Verstappen. "GP at that point wasn't referring to Max; he was referring to others on the radio complaining about penalties," Horner explained.
Spa-Francorchamps is expected to be a better venue for Red Bull, with its layout playing to the team's strengths. The recent erosion of Red Bull's early-season advantage, however, remains a concern. Verstappen is acutely aware of the necessity to improve, acknowledging, "I feel like I probably push harder than I did last year, but it's just not coming anymore to have these great lap times. So I guess it just means that we are a bit slower. So we have work to do. Simple as that."
Verstappen's candidness about his team's performance and strategy continues to be unfiltered, a trait that has defined him throughout his career. "I don't think we need to apologize; I just think we need to do a better job. I don't know why people think that you cannot be vocal on the radio. I mean, this is a sport," he asserted. In his characteristic blunt manner, he added, "If some people don't like that, then they can stay home."
As Verstappen looks ahead, focusing on recapturing his dominant form, Red Bull will need to harmonize their approach, making sure every team member is in sync with the driver's unwavering pursuit of excellence and victory.