Max Verstappen has claimed that “some people need to wake up a bit” at Red Bull as he voiced worries over its competitiveness at Formula 1’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
The increasing threat from rivals McLaren and Mercedes through recent rounds led Red Bull to accelerate a comprehensive upgrade package to this weekend’s event.
However, McLaren again boasted an edge over Red Bull’s updated RB20, as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri headed a front row lockout to demote Verstappen to third.
Verstappen, who was 0.045s behind Norris, has insisted that Red Bull’s latest developments, which include a revised engine cover, hadn’t delivered a big enough step.
The Dutchman argues Norris completing one run in Q3 created an unrepresentative perception of Red Bull’s deficit, citing that McLaren also has an easier car to drive.
“The updates do work, but I don’t think it has produced the strides we would have liked to have made,” Verstappen told De Telegraaf.
“McLaren is ranked one and two here, then obviously the car goes like a bullet.
“With us, it’s different. It’s hard to find a good balance. I think I have to drive more on the limit than last year. And then I think my lap in itself was good.
“You also have to remember that Lando only had one set of new tyres. That’s why I think it was a bias, I think the gap is bigger and that’s also going to be the problem in the race.”
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko expressed post-second practice that the updates were working as the side expected, but Verstappen has since challenged that notion.
“But on Friday I already didn’t think it was optimal, maybe we have a different opinion on that,‘’ he added.
Verstappen is convinced the entire team hasn’t grasped how serious McLaren’s challenge is and has called on some individuals to treat this round as a wake-up call.
“Not everyone has realised the situation, I think,” he commented.
“With me, they know I am not making excuses, I am always very real. Perhaps not everyone is on the same wavelength.
“I think maybe some people need to wake up a bit. It’s not all very bad, but if you want to be World Champions you have to do better than this.”
McLaren has squandered several opportunities to win more than one race this term, meaning Verstappen’s lead in the championship stands at a colossal 84 points.
But despite his substantial points advantage, the three-time F1 champion has warned that Red Bull can’t be reliant on the competition continuing to make mistakes.
“At some point, that’s also over. Everyone learns from their mistakes,” he cautioned.
“It’s not like I’m going to go back to the motorhome now, put my feet up on the table and be fine with it all. I am frustrated and not happy with how things are going.
“Then I know it could be another 12 long races this way.
“McLaren has always been fast in recent weeks. Whether it was hot or cold, on any track. We get beaten on pure speed every time.”
