Verstappen states that the poor result at the British GP 'isn't important'.

      "I anticipated it to be challenging, but not to that extent."

      Nico Hulkenberg's first podium finish was the sole "positive" Max Verstappen recognized following a tough day in the cockpit for the four-time world champion. "He was the first to approach me when I exited the car," 37-year-old Hulkenberg stated to Viaplay after the wet and eventful British GP, which ended his astonishing streak of 239 races without a top-three finish. "I would have preferred to achieve it from the beginning, like Max, but my career trajectory has been a bit different," he smiled. "I just had to keep the faith.

      "We go back to our karting days," the German continued. "We have a lot of respect for one another. I respect what he does and what he represents. And he’s a wonderful person."

      Having already resigned himself to the idea of not catching the McLarens in the drivers’ standings a few races prior, Verstappen didn’t seem bothered that his pole position ended with a spin mid-race and a P5 finish. When asked about Hulkenberg’s podium, the 27-year-old responded: "Yes, great. That’s the silver lining of the day. I’m really happy for him."

      Regarding his own experience in the Red Bull, Verstappen shared, "Just oversteer, understeer. No speed from the beginning. I really had to grip the steering wheel tightly. There’s still a bit of humor in it because it feels like that’s all there is." The Dutch driver appeared indifferent to championship leader Oscar Piastri's contentious 10-second penalty for braking behind the safety car. "It’s happened a few times now that people do that in front of me," Verstappen acknowledged. "I only learned after the race that he received a ten-second penalty for it. It’s extreme, yes, but I don’t make the rules."

      Some speculate that Verstappen’s challenging day in the rain was due to the very low-downforce rear wing that secured him pole, but even he was taken aback. "I expected it to be tough, but not to that degree," he remarked. "We aren’t competing for the championship anyway, so it doesn’t matter. I had no grip and made a mistake, but I'm not upset. I’m not focused on the championship. In the end, coming back to fifth wasn’t bad. I’ll take it race by race—sometimes it’ll be better, sometimes worse."

      Even Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko now seems fully aligned with Verstappen’s view that the team should shift focus from chasing either championship in 2025. "There are still a few things in the works," he told Servus TV, "but as we can see, it’s not enough to get even close to McLaren. That pole position resulted from a combination of Max and a risky setup. We must acknowledge that McLaren is superior, and it’s going to be very challenging to catch up."