The 2024 Formula 1 season was a rollercoaster for reigning world champion Max Verstappen. Despite clinching his fourth consecutive drivers’ title and taking home nine Grand Prix victories, the Dutchman faced some of the most challenging race weekends of his career. At the heart of his frustration? The Hungarian Grand Prix, a race weekend Verstappen described as his most exasperating of the season.
A Season of Highs and Lows
The RB20, Red Bull’s 2024 challenger, struggled to match the dominance of previous seasons. Plagued by updates that didn’t deliver and a resurgent McLaren taking the Constructors’ Championship, Verstappen often found himself forced to overextend just to remain competitive.
“It was a super frustrating weekend,” Verstappen said of Hungary. “We arrived with a lot of updates, and they didn’t really do much in terms of pure performance. We couldn’t really extract it, and then the race itself also didn’t go well. Everything that could go wrong went wrong.”
Hungary GP: A Weekend to Forget
Verstappen’s frustrations reached their peak during the Hungarian GP. After failing to unlock the potential of Red Bull’s upgrades, the race spiraled into chaos. A collision with Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages of the race not only ended Verstappen’s hopes for a podium but also saw his RB20 briefly take flight before limping home in fifth place.
The incident also sparked a heated exchange over the team radio between Verstappen and his race engineer, further highlighting the tension within the Red Bull camp. While the dust has since settled, Verstappen admitted that the aftermath of Hungary prompted candid discussions within the team.
“Coming out of that weekend, we chatted a lot internally. It was good because we said what was on our minds, moved forward, and worked well together.”
The Battle Ahead: 2025 and Beyond
Red Bull’s struggles in 2024 were compounded by the team’s shocking loss of the Constructors’ Championship. As F1 prepares for the final year of the ground-effect regulations in 2025, the team faces immense pressure to regain its footing. Verstappen will once again shoulder much of the responsibility, now alongside a yet-to-be-named new teammate.
With McLaren surging ahead and Red Bull scrambling to reclaim its dominance, Verstappen’s ability to adapt and lead will be critical. “2025 will be another challenging year,” Verstappen noted, underscoring the importance of unity and resilience within the team.
Hungary: A Turning Point?
While the Hungarian GP was a low point in Verstappen’s season, it also served as a wake-up call for Red Bull. The team’s ability to address internal tensions and recalibrate after that disastrous weekend played a pivotal role in salvaging Verstappen’s title-winning campaign. As F1 heads into another season of high stakes and tight margins, the lessons from Hungary could prove invaluable.