Max ninth in Hungary after tough race: 'It was just terrible'

Published on 03 August 2025 by Misha van der Kroon

Max Verstappen finished the Hungarian Grand Prix in ninth place. The Dutchman endured a challenging weekend at the Hungaroring, having started the race from P8. In the final laps, the Dutchman was unable to overtake Liam Lawson and finished in P9. Lando Norris won the Grand Prix, followed by his teammate Oscar Piastri. George Russell, Charles Leclerc, and Fernando Alonso completed the top five.

Max, who drove his 200th race for Oracle Red Bull Racing today, says after the race: “There’s nothing to make of it. It was really awful. But that’s been the case all weekend, so it’s not exactly shocking. It was just terrible. Nothing worked.”

Max has to report to the stewards after the race due to an incident with Lewis Hamilton. The Dutchman attempted to overtake the Ferrari driver, during which Hamilton briefly went off track. About the incident, Max says: “I think it’s a shame that I have to go to the stewards again after the race. Just analyse those things during the race. I don’t understand why we even need to go there. I just put my nose in, he was startled, and went off the racing line. So yeah, I don’t really know what’s going on there.”

When asked what he expects from the stewards’ hearing, Max replies: “I couldn’t care less. Whether you finish ninth or score no points at all, it doesn’t matter.”

Most drivers start the race on the medium tyres. After a difficult qualifying, Max has to start from eighth position. For the first time this season, Charles Leclerc starts from pole and he gets away well, keeping the lead into Turn 1. Oscar Piastri also holds onto second place, while Lando Norris loses P3 to George Russell. In the opening lap, Verstappen loses a position to Liam Lawson, but takes it back in the second lap. Shortly after, he also overtakes Lance Stroll.

Nico Hülkenberg receives a five-second time penalty for a false start. In the meantime, Verstappen finds himself stuck in a DRS train behind Gabriel Bortoleto. On lap 18, he dives into the pit lane to switch from mediums to hards. He rejoins in P16, just behind Hülkenberg. At the front, Oscar Piastri attempts an undercut on Leclerc, but Ferrari reacts immediately and manages to keep the lead.

Verstappen attacks Lewis Hamilton, forcing the Brit off track momentarily. The incident is noted by the stewards and will be reviewed after the race. Max then overtakes Isack Hadjar and finds himself in clean air, though there's still a large gap to Liam Lawson in eighth.

Leclerc makes his second pit stop and comes back out in fourth, behind George Russell. Russell pits shortly after, while McLaren stays out. On lap 46, Piastri finally pits, dropping to third and handing the lead to teammate Norris, who then looks like the favourite for the win. Verstappen is running in fifth, and Red Bull considers keeping him out on his ageing tyres. Max radios that it’s going to be tough. Eventually, the strategy proves unworkable; he pits on lap 49 and falls back to P9. Oliver Bearman suffers damage and is forced to retire.

Piastri begins chasing down Leclerc and overtakes him to take second place. He sets his sights on Norris and starts closing the gap. Meanwhile, Leclerc expresses his frustration over team radio, saying it would be “a miracle” if he finishes on the podium. That prediction soon proves accurate when Russell passes him. Although Leclerc initially defends well, Russell is too quick and overtakes the Monegasque. The Mercedes driver complains that Leclerc moves under braking, and the stewards open an investigation. Things don’t improve for Verstappen, who is still battling Lawson for P8.

With five laps to go, Norris feels the pressure from Piastri right behind him. Lapped traffic starts to play a role. Russell reports some raindrops over the radio, but the rain holds off. Piastri is within DRS range of Norris and attempts a move into Turn 1, but doesn’t succeed to overtake his teammate. Meanwhile, Pierre Gasly receives a ten-second penalty for causing a collision with Carlos Sainz. During another attempt to overtake, Piastri locks up and nearly hits Norris, but the Brit driver holds his ground and takes the win, closely followed by his teammate. Russell secures the final podium spot.
Leclerc receives a time penalty for the earlier incident with Russell but keeps his fourth place. Alonso finishes fifth in Hungary. Verstappen can’t get past Lawson and eventually has to settle for ninth.

Results Grand Prix Hungary: