Verstappen - Red Bull "impossible" to drive after being "taken out by Mercedes" again

Max Verstappen has claimed his Red Bull was "almost impossible" to drive and criticised being "taken out by a Mercedes" for the second time in two races at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Dutchman surrendered his championship lead to Lewis Hamilton after sustaining extensive damage in contact with Lando Norris, triggered by Valtteri Bottas' error into turn one at a damp Hungaroring.

Verstappen was able to drag his wounded car into 10th to collect a solitary point but lamented the incident that derailed his chances.

"Again, taken out by a Mercedes, it is not what you want," Verstappen told Sky Sports F1.

"I was missing the whole side of my car, the whole bargeboard area and the floor was damaged as well.

"It was almost impossible to drive, to be honest. I still tried my very best and scored one point. It is at least something but not what you want."

Asked if the summer break was an opportunity to reset, he said: "No it is not. These moments don't do anything, [I'm] just disappointed.

"When we go again after the break we will go again, I will try my very best and of course, I hope my car is going to be competitive, we will find out."

Verstappen bemoans "freak moments"

Verstappen's healthy championship lead after the Austrian Grand Prix has been wiped out across the last two races after two incidents.

Urging the team to retain focus into the second half of the year, he added: "It is a lot of freak moments at the moment which has cost us a lot of points.

"They were very quick, we will never give up. We have to focus on ourselves and see where we end up."

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