Max Verstappen’s recent blunt comments about Red Bull‘s performance after a difficult weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix have sparked concern over the team’s current struggles. The 2024 season has seen Verstappen contend with a car lacking competitive pace, and his open doubts about the team’s ability to fight for wins have intensified worries within the Red Bull camp.

At the Hungarian GP, Verstappen endured one of his toughest races of the year, qualifying eighth and finishing ninth, marking a rare underwhelming weekend for the Dutch driver. Notably, while other drivers up to tenth position had been lapped multiple times by McLaren’s front-runners, Verstappen was the first not to be lapped during the race. His blunt dismissal of Red Bull’s chances moving forward surprised many given his strong performances earlier in the season, including multiple poles, wins, and a sprint victory in Spa.

Expert reaction highlights the impact of Verstappen’s stark message

Bernie Collins, reflecting on Verstappen’s remarks during a Sky Sports segment, expressed concern about their potential effect on team morale. Collins stated,

“I don’t think any driver says we’re not going to win anything this year as a motivator to the team. That’s pretty demotivating if I were an engineer. I think that would really hit you a little bit.”

She further discussed the team dynamics, emphasizing the role of tactical leadership in addressing existing issues.

“So, I think he’s hoping that with Laurent Mekies, a very tactical guy, they can get on top of the issues that this Red Bull has had for several seasons now. Get the second driver working well, and next year, they’ve got this real line in the sand, a real chance to start again.”

Underlying technical struggles limit Red Bull’s performance this season

The ongoing technical challenges impacting Red Bull’s car, particularly in handling balance and agility on slower to medium-speed corners, have been a persistent problem. These fundamental flaws have hindered the team’s ability to deliver a consistent race-winning package, with Verstappen’s frustration serving as a stark message to engineers and team management.

Collins interpreted Verstappen’s frank communication as a deliberate effort to prompt change.

“But, they need to get on top of these fundamental issues that they’ve been having for a little while now. Max, I think, is just using it as a powerful way of communicating with the team, ‘I am really not happy, and something needs to change in this car to make me happy’.”

She added,

“That’s what will hopefully drive the entire engineering force behind him to get a car that he can be more competitive with next year.”

Verstappen aims for rebound as the Dutch GP approaches

The recent series of setbacks has left Verstappen without a podium finish for four consecutive races, a streak he has not experienced since 2017. With the home race in the Netherlands at Zandvoort imminent, the Dutch driver is eager to return to form, hoping to inspire both himself and the team ahead of the season’s remaining challenges.