Max Verstappen has been told that playing even a small role in the Formula 1 title fight this season is now 'impossible'. That is the verdict of Helmut Marko, who has also shared what Red Bull 'suspect' was the issue which limited the Dutchman's pace at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
It was a difficult second event in charge for team principal Laurent Mekies. Verstappen qualified eighth but could not make progress in the race and finished one place lower in ninth, while Yuki Tsunoda suffered another Q1 exit in qualifying and, starting from the pit lane with a new engine, did not trouble the points-scoring positions.
Verstappen remains third in the drivers' standings and the nearest challenger to the runaway McLaren pair of Lando Norris, who won the Budapest race, and championship leader Oscar Piastri. But his result in Hungary saw him add just two points to his total.
Red Bull came into the season hoping to help their star driver to a fifth consecutive title, but long-serving team adviser Marko has now conceded that will not happen. 'That's impossible, absolutely,' he told German-language outlet Speedweek.
Regarding how the race panned out for Verstappen, the Austrian added: 'It did not go very well. A pit stop would have been better, because overtaking was really difficult on this track. So maybe sixth or even fifth place was possible.'
Verstappen had complained about his car for most of the weekend and never looked comfortable behind the wheel. Marko believes, though, that the problem was circuit-specific and should not continue to affect them after the summer break. He said: 'The tyres were not working. I think it was only a concern here and it will not happen again if our suspicion about the cause [of Verstappen's lack of pace and grip] is confirmed.'
