Max Verstappen pinpoints his F1 Hungarian GP outburst as the moment that galvanised Red Bull
Max Verstappen believes the feedback gathered during the 2024 Hungarian GP played a pivotal role in improving the RB20’s performance in the latter part of the season. Speaking at the drivers’ press conference in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen explained that Red Bull discovered key solutions to the car’s issues, helping turn its form around as the season progressed.
Verstappen credited the insights gained during and after the Hungarian GP as the turning point for understanding the car’s limitations and identifying the right development direction. The Dutchman, known for his passionate radio messages and candid feedback, said that while the season has been demanding, those heated discussions ultimately contributed to a better understanding of the car.
Asked about his frustrations surrounding the car mid-season, he said:
“Yeah, I mean, I think it helped that a lot came out in Hungary. And after that, yeah, we had some good chats within the team. And it never works, you know, when you're frustrated all the time because you're not going to move forward. So I think from there onwards, you know, we really worked well together and actually tried to really actively look for improvements and solutions. And it was hard to understand at times, but I think at one point we found a direction that we had to look into, and that's what we continue to do.”
The RB20’s narrow operating window and unpredictable handling posed significant challenges throughout the year. Verstappen had voiced frustrations early on, highlighting a lack of correlation between simulations and on-track performance.
Max Verstappen says the team struggled to understand the Red Bull RB20
Max Verstappen believes that persistence and perseverance were key to improving the Red Bull RB20's performance. Reflecting on the season's challenges, the 26-year-old said there was a period when the car was difficult to understand, with wind tunnel data failing to correlate with on-track performance.
Verstappen explained that the team made changes to address the car’s issues, but it took several races for those adjustments to translate into improved results. He highlighted that the RB20’s narrow operating window made development particularly tricky, requiring patience and meticulous fine-tuning.
Verstappen added that operating within the constraints of the budget cap added to the challenge. He noted that finding cost-effective solutions to enhance performance required strategic decision-making and innovative approaches, emphasizing the added complexity of developing a competitive car under financial restrictions. Despite these hurdles, Verstappen commended the team for their resilience, which ultimately delivered improved results in the season's final stages.
Asked what it took for Red Bull and himself to overcome such a difficult season, Max Verstappen said:
“Yeah, I mean, we had a tough time. And the problem was that we didn't really understand, I think, fully what was the reason behind it, because all the numbers that we saw were actually promising. So it's just trying to find it, trying to understand what is going wrong, trying to improve that balance in the car. And that's what we have done. And it took, of course, a few races to get on top of.
"And then, of course, you have to make changes. And in a season with a budget gap, it's very tough sometimes also to calculate what you can do and what you cannot do. Some things you cannot change in the season. This is for next year. But I'm proud of how we have found solutions and how we have become, again, more competitive.”
Max Verstappen returned to competitive form at the Qatar GP. His ninth win of the 2024 season brought his points tally to 429 and extended his lead over Lando Norris to 80 points in the drivers’ championship. However, despite Verstappen’s strong individual performance, Red Bull Racing sits third in the constructors’ standings with 581 points, trailing Ferrari by 38 points and McLaren by 58 points, respectively, as the season heads into its final race.
However, finishing third in the constructors’ championship could provide Red Bull with additional wind tunnel time to develop their 2025 car. As the reigning constructors’ champions for the previous two years, they faced the least amount of wind tunnel allocation, which limited their ability to develop the RB20. The team now looks forward to leveraging the increased development opportunities as they aim to return to title contention next season.