Red Bull boss counters Max Verstappen claim after 'difficult and uncomfortable' experience

Laurent Mekies has downplayed Max Verstappen's suggestion that he will not win another grand prix this F1 season.

The Red Bull team principal was unconcerned by the Dutchman's comments, highlighting how "tough" the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend was for the Milton Keynes outfit, which concluded the first part of the campaign.

Verstappen, who has two victories to his name in 2025, endured a frustrating weekend at the Hungaroring, qualifying a lowly eighth and slipping back in the race, claiming just two points from his ninth-place finish.

Following that disappointment, the four-time F1 drivers' champion finds himself all but out of this year's title fight at 97 points adrift.

He also declared himself unable to triumph for the rest of the year, such are the difficulties he is facing with the troublesome RB21.

While Mekies acknowledged how poor the weekend on the outskirts of Budapest was for the team, he defended the six-time constructors' champions, branding the situation unrepresentative.

"It was a tough weekend," the Frenchman told media, including RacingNews365. "I don't think what you saw represents where the car is at all.

"We accept the fact that we are probably not very strong on tracks like [the Hungaroring], but what we have seen today was outstanding [an outlier].

"Look, no question, the McLaren is faster, but look at Spa-Francorchamps, Max was able to fight: certainly on Saturday, and surprise everyone in the sprint."

Mekies labelled the round in Hungary "difficult" and "uncomfortable", but highlighted the positives that can be drawn from it.

The 48-year-old insisted Red Bull would learn from the experience and, hopefully, perform to a higher standard across the remaining 10 rounds of the year.

"So, let's see," he added. "The season is still very long, even if car development is going to heavily slow down or is pretty much going to be minimal from now on, we still have a lot of things we can learn, as [Hungary] showed.

"As difficult and as uncomfortable as it is, fundamentally, you learn through those sorts of weekends, and so better to have them early on.

"We will learn, and if we are able to extract a bit more of the car thanks to weekends like this, then hopefully we can put up a better fight."