Formula 1 leader Max Verstappen said Red Bull needed to do more work on its car after McLaren took the front row in Saturday’s eventful qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The three-time world champion, who has won seven races so far this season, will start third on Sunday at a circuit where overtaking can be difficult.

“I mean, they (upgrades introduced in Hungary) definitely work, but we are still not the first, right? So we need more. It’s as simple as that,” the Dutch driver told reporters.

He admitted he was frustrated, which was evident on his final flying lap when he hit the handlebars as he crossed the finish line.

“Looking back at my qualifying, I think I was very happy with the laps, but in terms of balance, everything is really on the edge. I’m pushing as hard as I can,” he said.

“I feel like I’m probably pushing harder than last year, but it just doesn’t happen anymore to do such great lap times. So I think it just means we’re a bit slower. So we’ve got work to do. It’s as simple as that.”

Verstappen won 19 races last year, while Red Bull won all but one of the 22 races in its most dominant season ever.

This season Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren have all won and in total six different drivers have stood on the podium in 12 races.

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McLaren now seems to have the fastest car.

“We will do our utmost. Try to find a good, stable balance with the car. And I hope I can follow them when I find that,” Verstappen said of the McLarens, with Lando Norris on pole and Oscar Piastri in second.

“But I don’t know. I mean, honestly, my long runs were okay, but nothing fantastic or special. I think it’s better to be realistic than to sit here and spread false hope.”

Verstappen did not participate in the last two minutes after the pit lane reopened following Yuki Tsunoda’s crash in the RB. The champion explained that there was no point in going out again.

“I didn’t want to drive anymore. I didn’t have any tyres, so they were used, so I was never going to get better. So there was no point in waiting in the pit lane.”