Max Verstappen: I don't understand how I ended up second.

      Max Verstappen is surprised but not disappointed with the result of the Hungarian race…

      Question: Max, in the interview after the finish, you called the race "incredible." How difficult was it to achieve such a result?

      Max Verstappen: During the race, the same problems arose as yesterday. There was strong oversteer, and a couple of times I struggled to keep the car under control. I had a good start, which helped a lot. Then the competitors used the "cutback," but I managed to overtake Lewis, which made the second segment much easier for me. Then the team put me on Soft tires, and at first, I thought it would be difficult to finish on them, but in the end, it worked out. To be honest, I still don’t understand how I ended up second, but the team did a great job. Today we exceeded our expectations, considering how everything went, which is very good. After getting out of the car, I noticed some damage on it. So yes, it was not easy for us.

      Question: You said that Saturday's problems repeated themselves, but were you more satisfied with the car during the race?

      Max Verstappen: No. It was exactly the same. In any case, after qualifying, you can’t change anything on the car, so I knew it would be tough, and it turned out that way. To be honest, it was one of the most challenging races of the year in terms of feeling in the car. I had to constantly adjust the balance from corner to corner. So yes, this podium really became an incredible result for us.

      Question: You mentioned overtaking Lewis Hamilton. Could you tell us more about that moment? It looked very spectacular from the outside…

      Max Verstappen: I knew it was my only chance since they weren't giving us much in terms of pace. I saw an opportunity, took a risk, and yes, it was a successful maneuver.

      Question: This is your third podium in four races. I understand everything you just said about this Grand Prix, but how do you assess the results of the first half of the season?

      Max Verstappen: Overall, it has been very tough. There were good moments, but overall – tough. We need to achieve greater stability and versatility from the car so that we have more calm weekends. Additionally, we need to make it faster and eliminate the problems that are hindering us right now.

      Question: Last year, you had a great run after the summer break. What are the main priorities in working with the car over the next few months?

      Max Verstappen: Obviously, we need to make the car more efficient. Then we need to eliminate the issues that sometimes cause us to lose speed during the weekend or even from start to finish of the race. This is also, in fact, an important priority. We'll see. After the break, we will revisit this.

      Question: The next race will be in Zandvoort and will likely be the last at this track. How special will this weekend be for you?

      Max Verstappen: This is my home Grand Prix, so I will definitely enjoy it immensely. I hope, including from a driving perspective! It will be great to see the fans. Okay, we won’t have Formula 1 there anymore, but there will be races from many other series, and if you want to spend a day at the track, you can always do that. I will still be able to enjoy racing in Zandvoort, just not in Formula 1, but that’s okay. I want to enjoy this with the fans. What they did to bring the race back is just incredible. When they hosted the first race, it was a great example for many other Grands Prix – how to organize an event and entertain the spectators. So yes, it’s very sad, but the track is there, and I’m sure I will drive many more laps there.