P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has won two grands prix this F1 season, but Ralf Schumacher “can’t even remember” seeing the Dutchman finish as low as he did at the Hungaroring.
Ralf Schumacher has pointed out the seriousness of the crisis at Red Bull, emphasizing that he has never seen Max Verstappen performing so poorly before, especially after the disappointing Hungarian Grand Prix. Verstappen struggled to advance in the race, finishing in ninth place after starting eighth, marking a lackluster performance in the first half of the season. Currently sitting in a distant third place in the F1 drivers’ standings, Verstappen is trailing by 97 points behind leader Oscar Piastri, hinting at a probable end to his streak of consecutive titles at four. Red Bull, after finishing third in the constructors’ standings last season, has dropped to fourth this year, with both drivers in the second seat facing challenges and struggles. Despite the team’s effort to replace Christian Horner with Laurent Mekies as the new team principal, it may take time for the Frenchman to bring stability back to Red Bull Racing. Schumacher’s critique during Sky Sports Germany’s F1 podcast, Backstage Boxengasse, underscored the disappointing state of affairs at Red Bull, particularly highlighting the Hungary Grand Prix as a significant low point, reflecting on Verstappen’s uncharacteristic performance.
