Max Verstappen punched his Pink Bull steering wheel in frustration after qualifying behind the McLarens in third for the Hungarian Grand Prix – with F1’s world champion describing his newly-upgraded automotive as “still not fast enough”.
In a Hungaroring qualifying hour difficult by rain and two pink flags, Verstappen was denied a spot on Sunday’s entrance row by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri with the McLaren drivers placing their in-form workforce accountable for at the least the beginning of the 70-lap race on a circuit the place overtaking is troublesome.
Verstappen nonetheless got here inside a whisker of the entrance row – he completed simply 0.024s behind second-placed Piastri and 0.046s adrift of pole-sitter Norris – on a weekend to date dominated by the speedy McLarens. On-board footage from the tip of the Dutchman’s remaining Q3 lap confirmed the championship chief slapping his wheel along with his fingers.
Requested after qualifying what had led him to do this, a characteristically frank Verstappen advised Sky Sports activities: “I’m frustrated just because we are not fast enough, and it has been for a while like that.
“This weekend we introduced fairly a couple of upgrades to the automotive and we’re nonetheless not quick sufficient. So, yeah, if I am not displaying feelings anymore than I do not care about myself – so I do care loads.
“So just frustrating. I felt like I tried everything I could to try and get pole, I know it’s very important around here also and for the championship, and we just lacked pace again.”
Since threatening to proceed their report dominance of F1 from final season at the beginning of this yr with 4 wins within the opening 5 races, Pink Bull have since seen their rivals constantly shut down their long-held tempo benefit and, on the proof of Saturday on the Hungaroring with McLaren, wipe it out utterly.
That turnaround has occurred regardless of Pink Bull persevering with to deliver common upgrades to their RB20, together with a comparatively important package deal this weekend on the Hungaroring.
“I was hoping for more performance, but it is what it is,” mentioned Verstappen when requested about this newest improvement elements, which included revised sidepod and bodywork, together with entrance wing.
“Maybe we didn’t optimise it, I don’t know, but we’ll see in the coming races.”
Talking within the post-qualifying press convention, Verstappen added: “For sure they work but they’re still not first, right? So we need more, it’s as simple as that.
“Trying again at my qualifying I used to be very pleased with the laps however balance-wise the whole lot appears to be on the sting.
“I’m pushing as hard as I can and then of course you have little moments here and there. I feel like I probably push harder than last year but it’s just not coming anymore to have these great lap times. So I guess it just means we are a bit slower, so we have work to do. As simple as that.”
Verstappen disputes McLaren concept he is the race-day favorite
Regardless of the frustration of qualifying, Verstappen will nonetheless seemingly stay a giant issue on the entrance of Sunday’s race as he bids for a 3rd consecutive Hungarian GP win.
He gained the 2022 race from tenth on the grid and final yr’s from second.
Certainly, McLaren boss Andrea Stella even recommended the Pink Bull driver “remains the favourite” for Sunday when the sweltering climate of Friday is poised to return.
However when that view was put to him, Verstappen quipped: “He must have seen a different timing sheet then!”
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Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz displays on all the large speaking factors from the qualifying in Hungary
The Dutchman, who leads Norris by 84 factors within the Drivers’ Championship on the midway mark of the 2024 season, added on his race prospects: “I don’t know at the moment – but what can I do?
“We’ll strive the perfect, attempt to have a very good secure stability with the automotive and I hope if I discover that I can comply with them. However I do not know.
“Honestly, my long runs have been ok but nothing fantastic or special. I think it’s better to be realistic than sitting here and spreading false hope. But we’ll see [on Sunday], it is what it is.”
Struggling Perez on newest crash: ‘It hurts to let your complete workforce down’
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Sergio Perez was eradicated from qualifying in Q1 after the Pink Bull driver slammed straight into the limitations on the Hungarian Grand Prix
Verstappen will as soon as extra discover himself as the only Pink Bull within the combat on the entrance of a race after team-mate Sergio Perez’s rising woes solely deepened on Saturday when the Mexican crashed in Q1.
The Flip Eight incident, which noticed the Pink Bull spin off and hit the limitations, got here two weeks after a mistake in equally drizzly circumstances dropped Perez out on the similar stage of qualifying at Silverstone.
Perez was already beneath rising stress for his Pink Bull seat, lower than two months after signing a brand new contract, following a run of 15 factors in six races and he’ll now begin this race no increased than sixteenth on a observe that’s certainly one of F1’s hardest to overhaul on.
He made no excuses afterwards and admitted his type was “something we need to change quickly” with another race weekend in Belgium to go earlier than the game’s summer time break.
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Perez says it hurts to let his workforce down after the Pink Bull driver hit the wall and didn’t surpass Q1
“I’m obviously very disappointed because the weekend has been really strong up to now,” Perez, who had been fourth quickest on Friday, advised Sky Sports activities F1.
“It hurts to let your whole team down, but at the end of the day I’m determined more than ever to get back where we belong as a team.”
He added: “It’s a massive job [on Sunday]. There’s a long race ahead of us, so I think I just have to shut the external noise down and focus on the job.
“[It] was the very best Friday of the season, so we’re undoubtedly making progress. Our time will come.
“Unfortunately, it’s just one after the other. I’m conscious of that and it’s something we need to change quickly.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s stay Hungarian GP schedule
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Sky F1’s Anthony Davidson takes a take a look at the enduring Hungaroring observe forward of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix
Sunday July 21
7:20am: F3 Characteristic Race
9am: F2 Characteristic Race
11am: Porsche Supercup
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday – Hungarian GP build-up
2pm: The HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Hungarian GP response
5pm: Ted’s Pocket book
Subsequent up for F1 is the Hungarian Grand Prix from Budapest on July 19-21. You’ll be able to watch each session stay on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
