Assessment: Red Bull Slows Down After Two Flamboyant GPs

The honeymoon period could not last forever. After two doubles in Germany and Great Britain in cool conditions, Red Bull was less competitive on the Hungaroring track in Hungary. Once again, it was Mark Webber who was rewarded as he achieved another podium. He finished third and scored six new points in the championship.

His teammate, Sebastian Vettel, cannot say the same. The German had the misfortune of being slightly hit at the start. His RB5 was touched somewhat and there was nothing else to do but retire. He loses second place in the standings to Webber.

Mark Webber – 3rd:

« I expected to be a bit slower after our Friday tests, but to be honest, we expected McLaren and Ferrari to be back. We knew it would be a more difficult circuit for us and that we wouldn’t have the advantage we might have had in the last two meetings. I’m happy with this result today. I think I could have fought with Kimi Räikkönen if we had made a slightly different pit stop. I was worried about the duration of my second stint. Overall, we still achieved a positive result. We are still at the top, we are in the hunt. Red Bull and Renault have something to be proud of, we are still a force, and it’s a positive day. »

Sebastian Vettel – Retirement:

« I was hit by Kimi Räikkönen at the first corner. I was on the inside and was clearly intending to accelerate and we made contact. My first stop didn’t promise anything good and that was the case, the front-left suspension was damaged and we had to retire. We knew the fight was going to be intense, but at the start of the race there’s nothing you can do. You head into the first corner and have five or six cars alongside you! There are still a few races left this season, so we’ll see what we can do. »

Christian Horner – Team Principal:

« Mark [Webber] had a good car today to finally secure third place. Unfortunately, we may have left him out on the track too long during the second stint. Räikkönen’s position might have been achievable, but I think Lewis [Hamilton] was out of reach today. Nevertheless, it’s a good result in terms of the Championships. For Sebastian, things didn’t go as they should have today. Unfortunately, a collision on the first lap and it seems the damage to his suspension is irreversible. Before the break, we’ve closed the gap in the constructors’ standings and we look forward to the next race in four weeks, in Valencia. »