Max Verstappen concedes that it may not be doable for him to win one other grand prix this season, however he needs to see Crimson Bull displaying higher consistency forward of 2026.
The defending champion has slipped 97 factors behind championship chief Oscar Piastri after a run of 4 races with no podium – albeit with a Dash win in Belgium – and took simply two grand prix victories within the first a part of the yr. Whereas acknowledging he’s not within the title battle this yr, Verstappen believes there are nonetheless essential classes to study ovefr the rest of the season, and pointed to enhancing the automotive’s predictability as a key goal after the summer time break.
“We at all times desire a first rate end,” Verstappen stated. “After all, the main focus for everybody is already lots on to 2026. However what we have to try to obtain is extra constant behaviors and outcomes on the finish of the day.
“I do not know [if wins are possible]. After a weekend like [Hungary], it’s extremely troublesome to say. However you by no means know. There may at all times be surprises or no matter.”
Verstappen can be pragmatic about Crimson Bull’s struggles, saying it was inevitable his run of 4 consecutive championships would come to an finish at some stage.
“I simply keep impartial (about) all the things. So I do not turn into overly optimistic or pessimistic or no matter,” he stated. “[Ahead of 2025] I used to be like: ‘Effectively, we’ll see’. I hope, after all, that we will nonetheless win some races right here and there. And we nonetheless did that. We nonetheless received two races. However, yeah, it’s robust.
“However then again, you additionally have to acknowledge that McLaren has carried out a implausible job from final yr to this yr, too. And from our facet, it has been a bit harder.
“[The recent form] shouldn’t be a shock, after all, should you have a look at the issues that we’re having. On the different finish, for 4 years, I’ve had actually lots of good outcomes. So it comes and goes, success.”
One huge current change got here within the type of Laurent Mekies changing Christian Horner as Crimson Bull workforce principal. Verstappen believes Mekies has made a optimistic begin in his new function.
“He is very open-minded,” he stated. “After all, it’ll solely get higher and higher – the communication that now we have – however it’s been going very well.”
