Max Verstappen concedes that it won’t be attainable for him to win one other grand prix this season, however he desires to see Pink Bull displaying larger consistency forward of 2026.
The defending champion has slipped 97 factors behind championship chief Oscar Piastri after a run of 4 races and not using a 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 struggle this yr, Verstappen believes there are nonetheless necessary classes to be taught ovefr the rest of the season, and pointed to bettering the automotive’s predictability as a key goal after the summer season break.
“We at all times need a first rate end,” Verstappen mentioned. “After all, the main focus for everybody is already quite a bit on to 2026. However what we have to attempt 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 tough to say. However you by no means know. There may at all times be surprises or no matter.”
Verstappen can be pragmatic about Pink 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 pieces. So I do not develop into overly optimistic or pessimistic or no matter,” he mentioned. “[Ahead of 2025] I used to be like: ‘Effectively, we’ll see’. I hope, in fact, that we will nonetheless win some races right here and there. And we nonetheless did that. We nonetheless gained 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 tougher.
“[The recent form] shouldn’t be a shock, in fact, when you take a look at the issues that we’re having. On the different finish, for 4 years, I’ve had actually loads of good outcomes. So it comes and goes, success.”
One massive latest change got here within the type of Laurent Mekies changing Christian Horner as Pink Bull staff principal. Verstappen believes Mekies has made a constructive begin in his new position.
“He is very open-minded,” he mentioned. “After all, it’s going to solely get higher and higher – the communication that we now have – however it’s been going rather well.”
