Max surprises with second place at the Hungaroring: 'I didn't expect it' Published on 26 July 2026 by Florence Cobben Max Verstappen secured a surprise second-place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix. For much of the race, the Dutchman appeared to be just out of reach of a podium finish, but a bold strategic call by Oracle Red Bull Racing to keep him out during a safety car period proved decisive, and ultimately paid off in the closing stages of the race. Lando Norris drove a confident race to take victory, while Kimi Antonelli, who started seventh, crossed the line in third. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton completed the top five in the final race before the Formula 1 summer break. “I didn’t expect to be on the podium today, but we worked hard for it,” Max explained after the race. “I think the start was decent — you know, to get through turn one and two — then after the first stop, to get back ahead of Lewis under breaking into turn one. And then trying to survive on the compounds, trying to make the right calls with the strategy, as well. Yeah, (I’m) very happy to be second here.” The Red Bull-driver didn’t have the easiest go of it during the race: “It was one of the hardest races of the year, in terms of how I felt in the car. For 80% of the race… it wasn't enjoyable. the balance of the car was undriveable. The car was difficult to control. It had too much oversteer and was difficult to control in the hobbles. At the start already something wasn’t right. When I got out of the car there was a hole in the bodywork. Those kinds of things definitely don’t help.” After the first pit stop,