Max Verstappen believes Purple Bull is not going to win one other Formulation 1 race in 2025 after “nothing worked” final weekend in Hungary.
Verstappen certified a season’s worst eighth and scored his worst end of the yr in ninth, behind the Racing Bulls of former team-mate Liam Lawson and was almost lapped by race-winner Lando Norris.
The Dutchman received in Suzuka and Imola earlier this yr with two standout performances however has stood simply as soon as on the rostrum within the final seven rounds.
Requested by the Dutch media in Budapest if Purple Bull might win a 3rd race this yr, he replied: “No, not the way things are going right now. That’s just the way it is. It’s clear.
“There’s nothing I can do about it. I might get offended, however that will not make the automobile any sooner.”
Yuki Tsunoda had one other dismal occasion with a fifth Q1 elimination of the season and struggled to a lonely seventeenth as his massive deficit to Verstappen continued.
Verstappen, who confirmed final week that he’ll stay with Purple Bull in 2026 after hypothesis of a shock transfer to Mercedes, says Purple Bull will “investigate” their “weird” weekend.
“It has been a very difficult weekend. Very low grip and not much we could make out of it,” he advised Sky Sports activities F1.
“It’s very complicated to explain. Nothing worked unfortunately. In Spa, we had a much more competitive weekend.
“I do know we aren’t on the extent of McLaren however they’ve additionally carried out job this yr.”
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Verstappen confirms he’s staying at Purple Bull subsequent season
Mekies ‘assured’ Hungary was a one-off
Per week previous to the Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen received the Dash in Belgium as he held off McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Norris with a mistake-free efficiency.
Spa-Francorchamps options lengthy straights and only a few medium to low-speed corners, which performed into Purple Bull’s palms, whereas the Hungaroring requires change of course and a automobile that has little understeer via the long-radius turns.
Purple Bull have been sturdy on tracks that depend on aerodynamics however have been weak with regards to circuits which favour good mechanical grip.
The workforce have additionally masked their weaknesses by operating a low downforce rear wing on Verstappen’s automobile, which helped him to pole place at Silverstone and the Belgian GP Dash victory. Nonetheless, it was not potential to run this specification of rear wing in Hungary as a result of twisty monitor structure.
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Verstappen secures victory within the Belgian GP Dash after holding off Oscar Piastri within the closing lap
“I don’t think what you see this weekend represents where the car is at,” stated Purple Bull workforce principal Laurent Mekies.
“We accept the fact that we are probably not very strong on tracks like here, but what we have seen today was outstanding.
“In case you look, no query McLaren are sooner, however take a look at Spa, Max was in a position to combat definitely on Saturday and shock everybody within the dash. Let’s have a look at.”
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Verstappen threw a rag onto the monitor from his Purple Bull in an uncommon second throughout second apply on the Hungarian Grand Prix
The ten F1 groups are usually not anticipated to convey any extra main upgrades this season as they flip their consideration to the brand new 2026 vehicles.
Regardless of this, Mekies thinks Purple Bull can achieve efficiency from studying what went flawed in Hungary to extract extra from the RB21.
“It will not change the fact that we have a narrow window,” he defined.
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Verstappen reacts after qualifying eighth across the Hungaroring
“But I think to be dramatically out of it like that, I’m also quite confident that with all the tests we’ve done in Budapest, including into the race, I’m quite confident also that it will be a one-off.
“It’s true that it was primarily a slow-speed and a mid-speed matter. Subsequently, it factors in the direction of extra tyre utilization and the tyre being switched on greater than our efficiency.”
What tracks will Red Bull be competitive at?
There will be 10 more rounds after Formula 1’s summer break with the 2025 season resuming with Verstappen’s home event at Zandvoort.
The high-speed track should actually play to Red Bull’s strengths and provide an opportunity for Verstappen to at least fight for the podium. However, things could get tricky after that.
Italy’s Monza has by no means been a robust Purple Bull monitor, then Baku and Singapore are road circuits that depend on mechanical grip as a result of slow-speed corners.
Purple Bull ought to be sturdy once more on the Circuit of the Americas as that is just like Silverstone and may be a menace once more in Mexico Metropolis.
Brazil’s Interlagos options consecutive sluggish corners within the center sector, which can be a difficulty, then Purple Bull’s final sensible alternative to problem McLaren will possible come on the high-speed Losail Worldwide Circuit in Qatar, because the finale in Abu Dhabi has one other twisty final sector.
Formulation 1 returns after the summer season break with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort on August 29-31, dwell on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
