Red Bull Racing is heading to the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix, buoyed by the results obtained at Spa-Francorchamps and confident of ending the first part of the season on a high. The team faces the Budapest event next weekend as the last opportunity to confirm their good form before the category’s August break.
Read more F1: Aron will replace Colapinto in FP1 in Budapest
The Hungarian track presents quite distinct characteristics compared to the Belgian circuit, which increases expectations about the cars’ performance throughout the weekend. With full focus on preparation, drivers and team emphasize the importance of starting well to maximize the potential of the package.
Max Verstappen recalled the positive result achieved in Belgium and highlighted the milestone reached alongside the team: “Spa was a positive race for us, everything was quite smooth throughout the weekend and it was good to get another podium with the team,” he stated.
The four-time champion emphasized that the car’s setup will be crucial at the Hungaroring: “It’s a totally different track with a distinct layout compared to Spa. We need to see how everything fits together and make sure we get the car setup right. It makes a big difference how you start the weekend, and we hope to start well to be as competitive as possible.”
Read more F1: Antonelli admits impact of fame and reveals advice from Federer
Verstappen also highlighted the anticipation for the return to the Hungarian capital and the support of local fans: “It’s exciting to see how we’ll do there. We always receive great support from the fans in Hungary, so we’re looking forward to going back,” he added.
Isack Hadjar, in turn, stated that the team intends to capitalize on the momentum from the previous round. According to the driver, the car’s performance at Spa was encouraging, despite the circumstances faced during the weekend: “It was a shame to have to start from the back of the grid, but we maximized what we could and now we go into this race with a clean slate,” he said.
The young driver believes that the characteristics of the Hungaroring could favor Red Bull’s performance: “The Hungaroring circuit suits us a bit more because of the low-speed corners, and that should help us get the most out of our performance. The team and I have been working hard since January and, with one last push this week, we hope to go into the well-deserved break on a positive note,” Hadjar concluded.
Read more F1: Leclerc avoids Ferrari favoritism for the Hungarian GP
