Verstappen Satisfied with Second Place at Hungaroring: 'It Was a Survival Race'
Dutch Red Bull driver didn't even dream of a podium after poor qualifying, but with smart strategy and a bold overtake on Hamilton, he secured P2.
Dutch Red Bull driver didn't even dream of a podium after poor qualifying, but with smart strategy and a bold overtake on Hamilton, he secured P2.
Max Verstappen finished the Hungarian Grand Prix in second place, surprising even himself with a result that, in his words, was beyond all expectations after Saturday's qualifying. The Red Bull driver described the race at the Hungaroring as a real survival, highlighting a decisive overtaking maneuver on Lewis Hamilton by braking into Turn 1.
In Saturday's qualifying, Red Bull had no answer to the pace of McLaren, Ferrari, and Kimi Antonelli in the Mercedes, which temporarily left Verstappen in sixth starting position. However, just before the start of the race, Hamilton and Antonelli received penalties for separate rule violations, moving Verstappen up two positions. By the end of the first lap, the Dutchman was already in third place, ahead of Charles Leclerc from Ferrari.
After the first pit stop, Verstappen temporarily lost position to Hamilton, but immediately responded with an aggressive braking maneuver into Turn 1. That move proved crucial for the final outcome of the race. "I saw the opportunity as the only one and I simply took it. We're good on the brakes, so that helped! Everything was under control," Verstappen stated to Formula 1.
Verstappen's position improved further when Oscar Piastri from McLaren retired due to gearbox issues. The ensuing Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period was used by Hamilton for a pit stop, opening the way for Verstappen to take second place. The remainder of the race saw the Dutchman carefully managing the aging soft tires, striving to hold his position to the finish line.
After the race, Verstappen did not hide his satisfaction with an outcome he considered nearly impossible given Saturday's circumstances. "Yes, definitely. I didn't expect to be on the podium today, but we worked hard for it. I think the start was decent to get through Turns 1 and 2, and after the first stop I got back ahead of Lewis by braking in Turn 1. Then it was just about surviving on the tires, trying to make the right decisions with strategy. I'm very happy to be second here, all things considered," Verstappen said to Formula 1.
The result at the Hungaroring reveals that Red Bull currently cannot match the pace of McLaren and Ferrari in pure speed, but Verstappen's ability to extract maximum from available opportunities remains unquestionable. The other Red Bull driver did not break into the upper part of the order, while McLarens showed dominant pace, interrupted only by Piastri's technical failure. Verstappen's 18 points for second place are certainly welcome in the fight for the drivers' and constructors' championships, but analysis lies ahead as to why Red Bull lags in single-lap pace on tracks like the Hungaroring.
