Red Bull told ‘wrong’ simulator setup caused Max Verstappen’s woes at the Hungarian Grand Prix

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Max Verstappen’s sudden lack of pace was shocking for both Red Bull and their fans at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Even after Friday practice, the Dutchman couldn’t find any improvements in his car and languished in the midfield. Any hopes of a fifth drivers’ championship this year are already over.

Now Verstappen will be left scratching his head during the summer break, and he might not be looking forward to returning at the end of August.

Red Bull’s car could now be considered a midfield runner. Yuki Tsunoda hasn’t done much with it all season, and now both drivers are struggling, they could be in for a dismal second half of the campaign.

After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Bernie Collins believes that Verstappen said something ‘demotivating’ to Red Bull staff following an admission that they might not win again in 2025.

Red Bull have a ‘suspicion’ of what caused Verstappen’s struggles and seemed to pin the blame on their tyres. They have plenty of time to debrief and understand their woes before the next race at Zandvoort.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen’s unheard final radio message highlights Red Bull’s problems perfectly at the Hungarian Grand Prix

Red Bull’s ‘wrong’ simulator setup caused Max Verstappen’s Hungarian Grand Prix woes

Laurent Mekies has been ‘surprised’ by Verstappen since his promotion to become Red Bull’s new boss. His commitment to racing is very strong.

In the final 10 races of the Formula 1 season, he isn’t likely to be able to perform any heroics, but he will be able to have some fun ahead of the 2026 F1 regulations.

After Hungary, Jeroen Bleekemolen has provided a potential explanation as to why Verstappen suffered from a lack of pace in Budapest.

“What struck me was that they have a kind of, in the simulation they do, they don’t actually take the tyre temperature into account,” he said.

“And that is something that I think, yes, but that is precisely what it is all about. So they can’t simulate that. You’re also honest with yourself, OK? They’re going to test A and B.

“Setup A and setup B and then compare. They can’t add 5 degrees or 10 degrees asphalt temperature, or yes, they can, but they can’t simulate it properly. And that is where it went wrong.”

READ MORE: Red Bull ‘surprise’ David Croft after key mistake costs Max Verstappen at the Hungarian Grand Prix

Why Red Bull might be left to struggle for the rest of the 2025 Formula 1 season

With little upgrades on their way in the second half of the season, Red Bull might be left with what they have for the remainder of the calendar.

Around slower tracks like Hungary, that could mean that they’re going to face some pain – Singapore in particular comes to mind.

For the first time since he was with Toro Rosso in early 2016, Verstappen might be left battling to make Q3 at most races.

But it’s important to remember that he did win the sprint race in Belgium just a few weeks ago. There’s pace in that car somewhere, it’s just a bit inconsistent, and their setup needs to be nailed.