Because Norris didn't run at the same time as others.
"I'm frustrated and not happy with how things are going."
He has been unhappy all weekend about the antics of his car, the RB20, which should have received a big boost in Hungary. He even described this weekend as crucial. "That's why I'm frustrated. I had hoped it would have yielded more," Verstappen said in the paddock, in measured answers in which he was very clear.
"The updates are working, but I don't think it has delivered the steps we wanted to take. McLaren is in first and second place here, so it's clear that the car is going like a bullet. It's different for us. It's difficult to find a good balance. I think I have to drive more on the limit than last year. And then I think my lap itself was good. You also have to remember that Lando only had one set of new tyres. That's why I think it was a distorted picture, I think the gap is bigger and that will also be the problem in the race."
"Everyone learns from their mistakes. It's not like I'm going to go back to the motorhome now, put my feet up on the table and be fine with it all. I am frustrated and not happy with how things are going. Then I know it could be another 12 long races this way. McLaren has always been fast in recent weeks. Whether it was hot or cold, on any track. We get beaten on pure pace every time.
But on Friday I already didn't think it was optimal, maybe we have a different opinion on that, not everyone understood the situation. With me, they know I don't make excuses, I'm always very real. Maybe not everyone is on the same wavelength. I think maybe some people need to wake up a bit. It's not all very bad, but if you want to be World Champion it has to be better than this."
Any idea who he's referring to? Horner?organic wrote: ↑20 Jul 2024, 19:15Verstappen"Everyone learns from their mistakes. It's not like I'm going to go back to the motorhome now, put my feet up on the table and be fine with it all. I am frustrated and not happy with how things are going. Then I know it could be another 12 long races this way. McLaren has always been fast in recent weeks. Whether it was hot or cold, on any track. We get beaten on pure pace every time.
But on Friday I already didn't think it was optimal, maybe we have a different opinion on that, not everyone understood the situation. With me, they know I don't make excuses, I'm always very real. Maybe not everyone is on the same wavelength. I think maybe some people need to wake up a bit. It's not all very bad, but if you want to be World Champion it has to be better than this."
Probably team management yes who are pedalling the line that all is fine we're competitive, it was always going to close up etc
It makes you wonder what Max is thinking/saying to the team when he sits in the car and see's Checo crash out or not make it out of Q1 week in week out.organic wrote: ↑20 Jul 2024, 19:15Verstappen"Everyone learns from their mistakes. It's not like I'm going to go back to the motorhome now, put my feet up on the table and be fine with it all. I am frustrated and not happy with how things are going. Then I know it could be another 12 long races this way. McLaren has always been fast in recent weeks. Whether it was hot or cold, on any track. We get beaten on pure pace every time.
But on Friday I already didn't think it was optimal, maybe we have a different opinion on that, not everyone understood the situation. With me, they know I don't make excuses, I'm always very real. Maybe not everyone is on the same wavelength. I think maybe some people need to wake up a bit. It's not all very bad, but if you want to be World Champion it has to be better than this."
Toto will love it. But not even everything is in order at the Merc camp so its irrelevant. ANY team would jump at the chance to sign Max
Okay, thanks. Very fair comment by Max -- at this point it is clear overall that RB20 is not the quickest car over the season. We had ~4 races before Miami and for the last ~8 outings, MCL38 has been quicker over the race.organic wrote: ↑20 Jul 2024, 19:20Probably team management yes who are pedalling the line that all is fine we're competitive, it was always going to close up etc
Whereas it's quite clear that the RB hasn't been the quickest car for a long time now, happened suddenly, and their own upgrades are hardly moving them forward
In the past few races McLaren have had better tire degradation and also simply more pace towards the end of the stints. In tomorrow's hot conditions if the car has comparable degradation and similar pace difference to McLaren as qualifying, I would personally consider the upgrade a success. The reality is not that so far McLaren have been at Red Bull's pace. They have been outright quicker, sometimes by even 3 to 4 tenths compared to Red Bull towards the end of the races. If that gap disappears, they have done some good work in my view.