Verstappen reacts to Marko’s statements after qualifying in Hungary

Updated: 10:26, 03 Aug 2025

Hidde Korte is an editor at GPblog, specializing in Formula 1 news. With a background in journalism and a strong passion for the sport, he delivers timely and reliable coverage of the pinnacle of motorsport.

Max Verstappen only reached the eighth place in the Hungarian GP qualifying. Helmut Marko commented afterwards that it went better on used tires than on new ones. Verstappen responded to this statement in front of GPblog and others.

After qualifying P8 behind impressive rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, Verstappen reacted: ''Those are moments when you try to come out positive, they also told me that in the pits. You don't drive the qualifying rounds on used tires, do you? That doesn't mean much to me.''

Max Verstappen in Hungary

Verstappen earns praise from Mekies after difficult qualification

Team boss Laurent Mekies also responded earlier to Verstappen's qualification. The Frenchman was impressed by the performance of the Dutchman, who was praised by the team boss afterwards: ''Max made it quite impressively through to Q3, despite our struggles, and where he qualified is probably a true picture of where we are this weekend so far.''

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F1-stand 2026

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	156
2	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	115
3	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	106
4	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	75
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	73
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	70
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	55
8	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	37
9	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	32
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	28
11	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	19
12	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
13	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	14
14	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
15	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	5
16	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	3
17	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
18	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	1
19	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
20	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
21	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
22	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0

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Verstappen reacts to Marko’s statements after qualifying in Hungary

Verstappen earns praise from Mekies after difficult qualification

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