Helmut Marko has full sympathy for Max Verstappen’s Rumpelstiltskin performance at the Budapest Grand Prix and takes the team to task after confessing that McLaren are “really strong”.

Following Max Verstappen’s tirade against just about everyone and everything in Hungary, Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko is sympathetic to his superstar protege: “If you know him and the Verstappens, then yes, but not necessarily on the radio,” Marko smiled on ORF about the world champion’s emotionally charged and sometimes angry radio messages.”

 

 

Marko: “Our fault…”

So he gave Verstappen a blank cheque: “It’s clear, it was our fault,” says Marko, adding on Sky: “We completely underestimated how difficult it is to overtake. We thought we would be faster than Hamilton and Leclerc with the extra speed we had, but we just couldn’t overtake. That showed that our strategy was completely wrong.”

Speaking of a “gross miscalculation”, the Red Bull consultant explains: “We thought that the quality of the tyres would be the deciding factor in the end, so we stayed out longer. But as we saw, even if we were one second quicker than Hamilton, it was no use if the overtaking delta was significantly higher than our calculations.”

So Verstappen gritted his teeth against Hamilton at the end of the race and it happened as it had to: The 2021 world championship rivals collide again on Sunday, with Verstappen’s rear end thrown into the air: “Max started an overtaking manoeuvre, but the car was not ‘out of control’. If Hamilton had not thrown him into the air with his front wheel, he would have had everything under control,” said Marko.

Red Bull move to secure Max but with Sainz back in the frame

 

 

 

Verstappen frustrated 

As for the bad mood of his driver, who was able to finish the race after the incident, but only in fifth place, the man from Graz in Austria commented: “The fact that he is frustrated, even in the race, is another factor: the update, he certainly expected more. He was 46 hundredths behind (in qualifying) and if you analyse the lap, it could have been the other way round. If he had been on pole, the world would have been different.”

Red Bull was not as bad in Hungary as the result would suggest: “The gap is not as clear as we were beaten. We are behind McLaren, but relatively close,” says Marko, who attributes the loss of time mainly to strategy and individual incidents: Right from the start, Verstappen had to let Norris pass, having overtaken the Brit in the hustle and bustle of the first off-track corner.

Hamilton admits to insurmountable issue with new F1

 

 

 

Marko admits: Not used to strong competition

“It was all a build-up here, like I said, he expected more from the upgrade. 46 hundredths, that’s hardly measurable. And if he had been in front it would have been different,” repeats Marko, who also brings up another point: “Max is not used to it, we are not used to it either, to fight really hard, to have opponents.”

“This is something that racing is,” says Marko, “much better for spectators and journalists. But the team is now ready to accept this new situation with stronger opposition, and we will master it,” the Red Bull consultant is convinced: “We are leading in both championships, there are eleven races to go, that’s a lot, but it’s not as if everything is lost”.

Marko believes: “The lead is not reassuring, but it is still there.”

Wolff says Marko correct about Mercedes’ Achilles heel

 

 

 

Frustrated Verstappen makes his demands clear

It is clear that Max Verstappen was furious, really furious. He didn’t win again, the rebellious McLaren duo were far too fast, and then there was the crash with his old rival Lewis Hamilton: Verstappen had a race to forget in Hungary – and is now demanding more from Red Bull.

“We have to work,” said Verstappen, who finished fifth in Budapest and complained about his car and strategy throughout the race: “I mean, it’s not like we can suddenly have new upgrades on the car next weekend, so yes, it’s a problem.”

Verstappen now heads to his second home race next Sunday at Spa with a lead of ‘only’ 76 points over Lando Norris. It is the last Grand Prix before the F1 summer break. And Red Bull can probably use it. After all, the last time Verstappen went three races in a row without winning was three years ago.

“We know we are behind McLaren and that is not nice,” said Verstappen after the heritage team’s double victory. He also expects to be “behind” in the duel with Hungarian winner Oscar Piastri and Norris at Spa: “Of course I am not happy”.

At least: Verstappen was not penalised by the stewards for his accident with Hamilton, which probably cost him third place.

Ricciardo confirms targeting Perez’s seat

 

 

 

Verstappen: “If some people don’t like it …”

Nevertheless, his nerves are frayed. Asked if he wanted to apologise to his team for his angry radio messages, Verstappen demurred.

“I don’t think we need to apologise. We just need to do a better job. I don’t know why people think you can’t be loud on the radio. It’s a sport, you know?” said the 26-year-old. “If some people don’t like it, they should stay at home…”

Verstappen publicly defends Perez

 

 

 

 

FIA investigating ‘cheating’ team’s front wing

 

 

World press reaction to the Hungarian GP

The press on the Hungarian GP “Nightmare race for Max Verstappen”

Oscar Piastri wins a Formula One race for the first time. The 23-year-old Australian’s victory is overshadowed by McLaren’s tactical confusion. World champion Max Verstappen suffers a major setback at the Hungaroring. Read all about it in the international press:

 

Great Britain

“The Daily Mail: “Lando Norris disobeyed team orders with three laps to go in Hungary, allowing McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri to take his first victory in one of the most controversial races in the team’s history”.

“Spiegel”: “Lando Norris couldn’t look Oscar Piastri in the eye. But he did manage to shake hands after a frustrating (for him) Hungarian Grand Prix. Norris and Piastri had several opportunities to acknowledge each other, but it didn’t happen at first. After a few minutes, however, the Australian approached his team-mate and Norris shook his hand and smiled, although he didn’t quite meet his rival’s eyes”.

“The Sun”: “Lando Norris fumes after McLaren forced him to relinquish Hungarian Grand Prix victory, while Max Verstappen hits out at Lewis Hamilton”.

 

 

 

Australia

“The Age: “Oscar Piastri scores his first grand prix win after breathtaking drama with team-mate Norris.”

Netherlands
“AD”: “The most striking moment of the race was a contact with old rival Lewis Hamilton with seven laps to go. Verstappen was hoping to finish third, but he was in the air and had to give up his fight for a podium finish. No, it was not Verstappen’s day. (…) Verstappen complained a lot about the radio and at some point he got frustrated.

“De Telegraaf”: “Controversial first win for Oscar Piastri, grumbling Max Verstappen fifth in Hungary”.

Italy
“La Gazzetta dello Sport: “Piastri’s first joy, driven by Norris. Verstappen chaos”.

“Tuttosport”: “A nightmare race for world champion Max Verstappen at the Hungaroring. The Red Bull driver was never in contention for victory and spent most of the race complaining loudly to his command post”.

 

 

 

Austria

“Kurier: “Tense atmosphere and a lot of discussion after McLaren’s double victory. Rarely has there been so much discussion after a double victory as there was on Sunday in Hungary. Oscar Piastri won his first Formula One race ahead of his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris. But the way this success was achieved was highly unusual”.

“Salzburger Nachrichten: “Formula 1 in Budapest: Verstappen loses his nerve – McLaren in a league of their own. Oscar Piastri celebrated his first victory in the premier class thanks to team orders, ahead of Lando Norris (McLaren) and Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes. Meanwhile, Red Bull and world champion Max Verstappen are completely on edge”.

“Kleine Zeitung”: “After strategy drama: Piastri wins ahead of Norris at the Hungaroring”.

 

 

 

Switzerland

“Blick”: “Norris robbed of victory in Hungary. Piastri wins on the orders of the McLaren bosses. Formula 1 has its 115th GP winner. But Oscar Piastri’s success at the Hungaroring leaves a bitter taste in the mouth”.

France
“L’Équipe “A team’s instructions are sometimes difficult to accept, but you have to respect them. Lando Norris (…) may regret it, but Oscar Piastri can be happy about it”.

“Le Parisien: “Double success for McLaren with Piastri ahead of Norris, Verstappen with a kamikaze manoeuvre”.

 

 

 

Spain

“Mundo deportivo: “Verstappen’s monumental anger after another collision with Norris at the start of Hungary. They are not friends on the track. No matter how well they get on, when they want to fight for the same goal, there is friction.

“How”: “McLaren causes chaos and Verstappen collides with Hamilton. (…) McLaren invents a problem.”

“Sport”: “This Formula 1 World Championship is undoubtedly the most unpredictable in recent years. Oscar Piastri took his first win in the premier class at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, and is the seventh different winner this year after thirteen races and only one before the summer break. (…) It was not Max Verstappen’s day.

READ MORE: Russians threaten Haas F1

 

 

 

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