Max ahead of Hungaroring: 'Upward trend'
Published on 23 July 2026 by Stefan Meens
At a sunny Thursday at the Hungaroring, Max Verstappen addressed the media ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix. The topics discussed included the season thus far and how the 2026 regulations demand a different driving approach.
“We try every weekend to understand the essence of the car and on some tracks that’s easier than others. But it’s an upward trend”, said the Oracle Red Bull Racing driver. “Of course, we don’t know what the other teams bring in terms of updates. A weekend being good or bad might depend on the updates others bring if it gives them a couple of tenths worth of pace. We just approach it race by race.”
The 2026 power units remain a hot topic in and around the paddock. “At some point, it does get a bit tiring to repeat myself, it’s already difficult enough to drive with these cars”, smiles Max.
“The way you drive isn’t natural and on some tracks that’s a bigger issue than others. Here in Hungary it should be more natural. It’s all about how you apply the throttle. Sometimes you gain time by going quicker through a corner, but you lose time on the subsequent straight. That’s not how it’s supposed to be; normally you gain the lap time in the corners”, explains the four-time champion.
“Ever since these new regulations have come in, you have to think about the gear, brake technique and throttle application. It requires a different input. It means that sometimes the driver can’t make the difference because you lose time on the straights. It’s just too complicated. It’s as simple as that.”
Regarding his immediate future, Max is clear: “I feel good. Red Bull Racing is like a second family to me. I don’t have anything else to say, because there isn’t anything going on. I just focus on getting the most out of the car and that’s difficult enough. We try to be in a position to win races again. We were close in Austria and hopefully that’ll happen more often. There is an upward trajectory and that’s good to see.”
