Max in Budapest: 'How close are we to our competitors?'
Published on 18 July 2024 by Stefan Meens
Ahead of the penultimate race before the summer break, Max Verstappen addressed the media in the Hungaroring paddock to preview the next two Grands Prix. In 2023, the Oracle Red Bull Racing driver won the Hungarian Grand Prix from P2 on the grid. “Last year the car wasn’t great in qualifying, but it came alive in the race. For this weekend it’s difficult to predict.”
Thus far, Max secured seven wins in his 2024 campaign. Nevertheless, the competition appears to close in. “Maybe you need to turn it around, how close are we to our competitors? In the last few races, we didn’t have the fastest car and I don’t expect things to change completely here. We are bringing upgrades and hopefully that will give us a boost. This update is a bit bigger than the other ones this year. That’s why it’s an important weekend, maybe even crucial.”
Max continued: “We look at the performance. Our car is sometimes a bit tricky, and we have to search for the balance on a Friday, which makes it more difficult to be consistent. So it was a real challenge to get the most out of our car during the last few Grands Prix. We’re trying to make the car a bit more predictable and get it in a better window. You’re always looking for a stable balance through FP1, qualifying and the race. We’ve fallen short in that respect recently.”
“Looking from the outside, other teams have made bigger gains, but our team is pushing to find pace. It’s difficult with these cars. As champions, we also have less time in the wind tunnel. That’s not an excuse, but the reality. But we do our best.”
The final race before the summer break is the Belgian Grand Prix. “Spa is still my favourite circuit, even after some of the changes they’ve made. When I’m there, I really enjoy myself, the lay-out with the flowing corners is amazing”, concludes the Dutchman.
For those wanting to join the Orange Army in the Ardennes, there are still tickets available for the Max Verstappen Grandstand at Pouhon at https://www.verstappen.com/tickets/belgian-gp
Contest Hungarian GP: win a by Max Verstappen signed Verstappen.com Racing cap!
