Max Verstappen sets clear instruction in surprising Red Bull assessment

Max Verstappen insists he must "drive a smoother lap" at the Hungaroring after battling through a "difficult" day in Budapest.

On the face of it, the four-time F1 drivers' champion had a quietly solid first day of track action at the Hungarian Grand Prix, finishing FP1 second quickest before ending the second hour of running in fourth.

However, the Dutchman was not happy with the balance of his Red Bull and is adamant that improvements must be found ahead of FP3 and qualifying.

Like last weekend — in the corner-laden middle sector — at Spa-Francorchamps, the RB22 performed well in Hungary, at a circuit widely considered to share many characteristics with a go-kart track.

Isack Hadjar in the sister car finished the two sessions in fourth and sixth place, respectively. The Frenchman found himself vying for the same positions as George Russell in the Mercedes, underlining the unexpected competitive balance in Budapest.

That is a far cry from the situation Red Bull found itself in at the same circuit last year, when Verstappen maintained he would not be able to win another race all season.

Nonetheless, the 71-time grand prix winner was not satisfied, and feels there is more than must be done overnight.

"It was a bit of a difficult day," the 28-year-old said after FP2. It was hard to find a good balance in the car."

It was not just the one-lap performance he took issue with, also pointing out that the race simulations were not yet where he wished them to be.

"We need to manage to drive a smoother lap, also for the long runs," he added. "So there is still some work to do for tomorrow.”