How Max Verstappen’s F1 collapse in Hungary continued

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After his two victories on Red Bull’s home soil in Austria, Max Verstappen rode the crest of the waves, failing five Formula 1 victories in a row only due to a late tire damage in Azerbaijan.

But his high-speed crash at Silverstone, triggered by a controversial collision with title rival Lewis Hamilton, was followed by a miserable afternoon at the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix on Sunday at the Hungaroring.

A 33-point lead for Verstappen has been washed away and is now six points behind Hamilton in 11 of 23 planned races, while Formula 1 is entering its four-week summer break.

Things had initially looked promising for Verstappen at the Hungaroring, a place where he took his first pole in 2019, even though Red Bull did not have a pace in dry weather compared to Mercedes. Slippery conditions, where Verstappen historically thrives, allegedly put him in question, but his prospects for a strong result only held a corner.

Valtteri Bottas’s mistake caused slaughter at Turn 1, with Mercedes driver leaving Lando Norris behind, who swiped into the side of Verstappen’s RB16.

In the impact, Verstappen’s car suffered significant damage, including the bargeboards and floor, which cost him significant downforce and then lap time.

In a one-two punch for Red Bull, Bottas’ trajectory led him on the trail of the sister car that was driven by Sergio Perez, and he was on the spot. Red Bull also suspect the impact caused terminal damage to Perez’s power unit, meaning he will likely face a grid penalty in the second half of the campaign due to allotment restrictions. In Hungary, too, Verstappen switched to his third and last approved engine.

“I think Mick Schumacher had more downforce today.”

Verstappen recovered just within the points and finished 10th for one point in a race with only 14 runners. It was a miracle that Verstappen didn’t retire right away.

“I think Mick Schumacher had more downforce today,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner about Verstappen’s car, referring to the Haas team in retrospect, which had the slowest car in 2021.

Mercedes fiddled with Hamilton’s strategy on restarting, but still rebounded to third place and scooped up 15 points, meaning it moved up ahead of Verstappen in the overall standings for the first time since the Monaco Grand Prix in May.

“In the race everything was out of our hands and I can’t believe that I was kicked out for the second week in a row,” said Verstappen.

“The mechanics did what they could to get me back into the race, but I had a lot of damage to the car after the incident and it was super difficult to drive. There was a lot of oversteer and understeer due to the loss of downforce. “

Perez was also frustrated with the situation.

“I don’t know what to say, but it is unbelievable to be hit like that at Turn 1 and a big blow for us as a team,” he said. “Bottas made a big mistake and braked too late at Turn 1, which slowed many cars, including me, and badly damaged Max’s car. He came to me and apologized knowing it was his mistake and although it wasn’t on purpose and sometimes the race goes like this, it doesn’t make any difference for us at the moment for the result as the great damage our races and Chance of points. “

Red Bull pit crew will be working on Max Verstappen’s car in Hungary on Sunday. Verstappen took 10th place.

Mark ThompsonGetty Images

Bottas has been found guilty and will receive a starting place penalty of five places in the next race in Belgium, but that was no consolation for Red Bull. But the team has vowed to dust off and come back fighting.

“We won six races in the first half of the year,” said Horner. “The races where we didn’t score: Azerbaijan wasn’t Max’s fault, Silverstone wasn’t Max’s fault, this wasn’t Max’s fault, so our luck will change over the course of the season, it will be the same for the entire season Season offsetting the second half of the year.

“I think the whole team deserves a well-deserved break and believe me, we will fight in the second half of the championship so it will be interesting.”

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