P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen is 97 points adrift of Oscar Piastri in the F1 drivers’ title, it would appear a fifth consecutive crown is not on the cards anymore.
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has officially declared that Max Verstappen will not be able to defend his 2024 F1 drivers’ title after a challenging Hungarian Grand Prix. Verstappen, who started from eighth, finished in ninth place despite some impressive overtakes early on, notably at Turn 6. McLaren dominated the race with Lando Norris securing victory ahead of Oscar Piastri, further widening the gap for Verstappen. Marko, having previously believed in Verstappen’s chances, now admits that it is impossible for him to catch up in points and retain his title. The Hungarian Grand Prix proved to be a nightmare for Red Bull, with Verstappen’s two-stop strategy backfiring and Marko now regrets not opting for a one-stop strategy instead. Despite showing some promising speed at times, Verstappen ultimately lost too much time with the second pit-stop, ending any hopes of a better result.
