Verstappen warns his team for the second half of the season
After 13 races this season, Max Verstappen already has 8 victories by the summer break, despite facing mechanical issues in three of them. After a fantastic comeback in Hungary, the world champion doesn't want to declare victory too soon.
While victory seemed unattainable due to a reliability issue, Max Verstappen managed to secure the win at the Hungaroring. A circuit that seemed to be in Ferrari’s favor… The victorious Dutchman started 10th on the grid and even lost control of his car during the race.
What better way to end the first part of the season than this? With an 80-point lead over Charles Leclerc in the drivers’ standings, the reigning world champion remains cautious. « Of course, it’s a good lead, but we can’t afford to have any more days like the one we experienced on Saturday. Even during the race, I had some issues with the clutch, as well as shifting into higher gears, which made the task more complicated. »
Overall, it is obviously satisfactory, but we must continue to work and improve certain things.
Reliability was a problem for Red Bull at the beginning of the season, particularly in Bahrain and Melbourne, two of the first three races that the world champion could not finish, thus giving Charles Leclerc a 46-point lead after the Australian Grand Prix. The tables quickly turned, as Red Bull now has a 97-point lead in the constructors’ championship.
“The same tune is echoed on Christian Horner’s side. It’s a good way to end the first part of the season, but there are still many races left. The Ferraris are fast, the Mercedes are getting back in the game. There is still a long, very long way to go until the title, with another sprint race ahead. We don’t take anything for granted.”
The members of the Red Bull team are aware of the lead they have in both championships, but they have no intention of resting on their laurels. The Austrian team and Max Verstappen don’t want to leave anything to chance for the second half of the season.
