VERSTAPPEN BLAMES ONCE AGAIN REAR WING PROBLEMS AFTER SPIN IN QUALIFYING
Max Verstappen endured one of his most difficult qualifying sessions of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Hungarian Grand Prix, finishing only sixth after struggling with major aerodynamic issues throughout the session. The Red Bull driver was unable to challenge for the front rows and spun at the final corner during his last attempt in Q3, bringing out yellow flags that affected the closing moments of qualifying.
Over team radio immediately after the session, Verstappen made his frustration clear. The four-time World Champion said the car was “completely broken aerodynamically” and that the situation became worse with every lap. He described the weekend as “a joke” and said the RB22 was “completely undrivable.”
Speaking to the media after qualifying, Verstappen confirmed that Red Bull had already found signs in the data pointing to a loss of aerodynamic performance related to the rear wing. He explained that every lap became more difficult to complete because the balance of the car kept changing, making it impossible to drive with confidence through the high-speed sections of the Hungaroring.
“The more laps I did, it became more and more difficult to put a lap together,” Verstappen said. “We need to fix that because the car is not drivable like this.” He also summed up the issue by saying, “We don’t have tyre degradation, we have car degradation,” suggesting that the performance of the car itself was getting worse as the session progressed rather than the tyres losing grip.
The problems became most visible during Verstappen’s final Q3 run. As he entered the final corner, he lost the rear of the car and spun before crossing the finish line. Although he avoided hitting the barriers, the spin brought out yellow flags, preventing several drivers behind him from completing their final qualifying laps under normal conditions.
After the session, Red Bull engineers began investigating the cause of the aerodynamic loss. Initial analysis pointed towards an issue affecting the rear wing or the airflow around the rear of the car, reducing downforce and making the RB22 unstable, especially in the fast corners that are a key part of the Hungaroring. The team will continue its checks overnight under parc fermé regulations, with only limited changes allowed before the race.
Verstappen’s sixth-place qualifying result leaves him with a difficult challenge on Sunday. Overtaking at the Hungaroring has traditionally been challenging because of the circuit’s narrow layout and lack of long straights. That means Red Bull will likely need to rely on race strategy, tyre management and pit stop timing if Verstappen is to fight his way towards the podium.
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