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#3 Max Verstappen, (NED), Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22, Red Bull-Ford, during the Hungarian GP, Hungaroring, Budapest, 23-26 July 2026, Formula 1 World championship 2026.<\/p>\n(GMM) Max Verstappen (pictured at the Hungaroring Thursday) has struck a noticeably calmer tone about his future as Red Bull begins the Hungarian GP weekend with signs of progress both on and off the track.<\/p>\n
After months of speculation about exit clauses, rival teams and growing frustration with Formula 1\u2019s 2026 regulations, the four-time world champion insists there is currently no move taking place.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I can say is that there is nothing to say because nothing is happening right now,\u201d Verstappen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel good. And I feel good here.\u201d<\/p>\n
#3 Max Verstappen, (NED), Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22, Red Bull-Ford, during the Hungarian GP, Hungaroring, Budapest, 23-26 July 2026, Formula 1 World championship 2026.<\/p>\n
Verstappen described Red Bull as \u201ca second family\u201d and said his attention remains fixed on improving the difficult RB22.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just trying to understand the car a little better and, of course, get back on the winning track,\u201d said the Dutchman. \u201cWe want to win races again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is complicated enough because we are still learning the basics of the car. We came close to a Grand Prix victory once in Austria, and Spa-Francorchamps was also a good weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat needs to happen more often. One weekend is good and the next we run into all kinds of problems,\u201d Verstappen said.<\/p>\n
However, he believes the trend is finally beginning to improve.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is an upward trend. We are getting slightly better and really making steps forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is nice, but you have to wait and see if other teams come with updates and make a leap.\u201d<\/p>\n
Verstappen joked that he could repeat last year\u2019s pessimistic prediction of no more race wins after Hungary, which preceded six victories after the summer break.<\/p>\n
But he does not expect another dramatic recovery this time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe situation is very different now. It\u2019s incomparable,\u201d said the 28-year-old.<\/p>\n
Verstappen also dismissed suggestions that his criticism of the current cars means he is preparing to retire.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am 28 and of course I could retire, but I love racing and I try to deal with what we have. Even though that is not what I love at the moment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Verstappen said Fernando Alonso\u2019s age makes the retirement question fundamentally different for the Spaniard. \u201cFernando is already 45 years old, and it\u2019s probably a little easier for him to say, \u2018I\u2019m leaving.’\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut for a real racing driver, it\u2019s hard. Especially when you don\u2019t like the current rules and you can\u2019t compete for top positions right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Verstappen also believes his outspoken criticism of the regulations is now being understood more clearly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not fun driving these cars, and it\u2019s not fun to keep talking about it. But people ask, and I think they deserve an honest answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI simply say what I think, and when I did that in the first part of the World Championship, people soon said, \u2018Oh, he\u2019s always whining, and only because his car isn\u2019t fast, he should just shut up.’\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I sense that more and more people are coming to the same conclusion as me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Red Bull is also preparing to reintroduce its troublesome \u2018Macarena\u2019 rear wing in Hungary after failures sent Verstappen off the circuit in Austria and Britain.<\/p>\n