Max Verstappen expressed surprise after finishing second in the Hungarian Grand Prix despite ongoing issues with his Red Bull car. The four-time world champion described the result as better than expected given the car's handling problems throughout the weekend.
Verstappen secured his fourth podium of the season at the circuit near Budapest. He said the aerodynamic issues that appeared during qualifying remained unchanged in the race.
On the final lap, Verstappen recalled thinking, "How the hell did I end up here?" He added that he was shocked by the outcome and remains so. The Dutch driver noted the car was extremely oversteery and difficult to manage from corner to corner.
A highlight came when Verstappen overtook Lewis Hamilton into Turn 1. He called the move his only real opportunity and credited it with improving his second stint.
Damage to the car was visible after the race, including on a floor vane extension piece that had been replaced under parc ferme conditions. Verstappen said the team performed strongly to achieve an over-performance relative to expectations.
