Max Verstappen believes that Red Bull Racing’s performance at the Formula 1 Hungarian GP will depend on a fundamental element: finding the ideal car setup from the start of the weekend. The Dutch driver arrives in Budapest after returning to the podium in Belgium and wants to end the first half of the season on a high.
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The four-time champion finished the Belgian GP in third position, securing his 130th podium with Red Bull. Now, with the August break approaching, the Dutchman emphasized the importance of making the most of the last race before the championship pause.
According to Verstappen, the Hungaroring circuit represents a completely different challenge compared to Spa-Francorchamps. The technical layout of the Hungarian track increases the need for good preparation work, especially in the first sessions of the weekend.
“Spa was a positive race for us, as everything was quite straightforward throughout the weekend, and it was good to achieve 130 podiums with the team. For Hungary, it’s the last race before the break, so it’s the final push. It’s a completely different track with a different layout compared to Spa, and we’ll need to see how everything fits together and ensure we get everything right with the car setup,” he stated.
Verstappen believes that a strong start can be decisive for Red Bull’s ambitions in Budapest: “It makes a big difference how you start the weekend, and we hope to start well to be as competitive as possible. It will be interesting to see how we perform there,” he added.
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The Dutch driver also highlighted the expectation of competing again in front of the Hungarian public: “We always receive great support from the fans in Hungary, so we are looking forward to returning,” he concluded.
Verstappen’s last visit to the Hungaroring, however, left unpleasant memories. In 2025, the Dutchman faced difficulties throughout the event, qualifying only in eighth place and finishing the race in ninth position, more than a minute behind the winner, Lando Norris of McLaren.
The driver’s current more optimistic tone comes after a positive assessment of Red Bull’s performance in Spa. Before the Belgian GP, Verstappen had expressed dissatisfaction with the current Formula 1 regulations, especially regarding the energy management requirements of the new generation cars. After finishing behind only Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc, however, his view on the team’s competitiveness seems to have improved on the eve of the Hungarian GP.
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