Red Bull Admits Lack of Speed Issues Ahead of Hungarian GP

Red Bull opens the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend on the back foot, with technical director Pierre Waché conceding the RB22 is “not quick enough” after a difficult Friday at the Hungaroring.

Max Verstappen places fourth on the timesheets, seven-tenths adrift of Ferrari’s benchmark. Rookie Isack Hadjar ends sixth, a second off Lewis Hamilton’s session-topping time, underlining the deficit.

Waché cites balance and usability as the primary weaknesses. Stronger winds in FP2 expose yaw sensitivity and make the car harder to place, disrupting the drivers’ confidence and rhythm.

The Hungaroring’s bumps compound the issue. Ride disturbances and quick load changes unsettle the RB22 at the limit, narrowing the operating window and forcing conservative set-up choices.

Both sessions show that small inputs trigger outsized balance shifts. The team targets a broader, more predictable platform to free the drivers to attack braking and rotation consistently.

Waché stresses incremental gains over silver bullets. The focus moves to pragmatic changes before FP3 and qualifying, prioritizing stability over peak downforce in gusty conditions.

Ferrari looks particularly sharp in the long and short runs, a reference point Red Bull must match to contest pole. That FP2 picture aligns with Ferrari’s evident pace through the twisty middle sector.

Despite the deficit, Verstappen maintains optimism that set-up refinement can unlock time, echoing his Hungarian GP hopes if the car’s balance window widens before qualifying.

The team’s immediate checklist centers on tyre preparation, rear stability on entry, and a calmer front-end through bumps. That trade-off should reduce snap oversteer without blunting rotation.

Hadjar’s learning curve continues. His feedback on wind sensitivity and kerb usage informs the direction for FP3, where Red Bull needs cleaner balance progression through the lap.

With qualifying looming, Red Bull frames FP2 as not fully representative, yet the priorities are clear: expand the RB22’s usability and close the gap to Ferrari and Mercedes. Further insight aligns with Verstappen’s recent verdict on Red Bull’s direction under variable conditions.

The weekend remains finely poised. If Red Bull stabilizes the platform for FP3, the recovery path to podium contention stays open. If not, damage limitation will define Saturday.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.