Max Verstappen returned to the podium last weekend at the Belgian GP with a third-place finish at Spa-Francorchamps. Now, the Dutchman enters the Hungarian GP upbeat about closing out the first half of the 2026 Formula 1 season on a high note, noting that Red Bull is on an “upward trajectory” following a challenging start to the championship.

Speaking to the media on Thursday (23), Verstappen highlighted Red Bull’s steady improvement over recent race weekends, emphasizing that the car has become increasingly predictable. Nevertheless, he pointed out that certain underlying issues still require further analysis.

Compounding the challenge, Verstappen emphasized the relentless effort from rival teams, who continue to introduce upgrade packages that can yield two to three-tenths on track. Because of that, he stressed the need to take things “one race at a time.”

“We’re just trying to understand the fundamentals of the car. On some weekends, performance has been a bit more predictable. On others, we still had a few issues we needed to address, but the overall trend is positive, which is always encouraging to see. At the same time, you have to wait and see when others show up with upgrades,” Verstappen analyzed.

“Sometimes you have a great weekend, and then by the next race, someone brings a package worth two or three tenths, and the whole competitive order shifts again. So, really, we just need to take it one race at a time,” he added.

Verstappen was also pressed on his long-term future with Red Bull—at the very venue where he famously affirmed his commitment to the Austrian squad last year. This time around, however, the Dutchman arrived at the Hungarian GP with nothing officially set in stone.

“I’m feeling good, and from my side, when I say there’s nothing to report, it’s because there really is nothing going on. My full focus is on extracting maximum performance from the car, which is challenging enough on its own. That’s where my mind is at,” the four-time world champion assured.

“This team is like a second family to me. I’m just trying to understand the car a bit better and, naturally, get back to winning ways,” he continued.

“We came close on one weekend, but obviously, I hope that happens more frequently than just once. As I said before, we are clearly on an upward trajectory, and that’s great to see,” Verstappen concluded.

Formula 1 returns July 24–26 in Budapest, host of the Hungarian GP, Round 11 of the 2026 season.

F1 Hungarian GP: when to watch in US ET, London (UK), New Delhi (India), Shanghai (China) and Sydney (Australia)

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