Sun Aug 03 13:10:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided information:

**Leclerc Starts Clean in Budapest, Verstappen Puzzled by Red Bull’s Pace Woes**

**Budapest, Hungary** – The 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix is set to be an intriguing affair, with Charles Leclerc starting cleanly from pole position after a strong qualifying performance. However, the focus is also on reigning World Champion Max Verstappen, who is struggling to understand Red Bull’s lack of pace. Lando Norris, unfortunately, lost two places in the opening lap of the race, complicating his strategy.

Verstappen, typically a dominant force, could only manage eighth place on the grid, marking his worst qualifying result of the season. He described Red Bull’s performance as a “mystery,” stating that the team was unable to find the usual improvements between Friday practice and Saturday qualifying.

“We didn’t seem to find it,” Verstappen said, referring to the expected performance gains. “We tried a lot as a team and unfortunately nothing really helped our balance.” He highlighted issues with both front and rear grip, making the car difficult to balance.

Verstappen noted the usually strong RB21 car has been particularly challenging this weekend. His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, also struggled, failing to advance beyond Q1. Tsunoda admitted that suboptimal preparation in FP3 contributed to his P16 starting position.

“I think overall this weekend we’ve struggled as a team,” Tsunoda stated. “The grip we should normally get is not there and probably something we are missing completely.”

The Red Bull team faces a challenge to understand and address their performance deficit before the race on Sunday, as Leclerc looks to convert his pole position into a victory. The Formula 2 race in Budapest offered its own highlights, showcasing the next generation of racing talent. With Verstappen starting further back than usual, the Hungarian Grand Prix promises an unpredictable and exciting race.

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