Portugal Colonial - 'Tough' and 'frustrating' as Verstappen struggles in Hungary

The series leader and world champion admitted that it will be very difficult for him to find a way through the field at the Hungaroring, a tight and twisty circuit where it is very difficult to overtake.

"It can be a tough one," he said. "If you're stuck and I hope of course I'm not for too long, but we just have to stay calm and wait for our moments to go forwards."

Verstappen has a 63-point lead in the championship ahead of nearest rival Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, who starts third on the grid.

The 24-year-old Dutchman added it had been "very frustrating" to experience technical problems that left him without power and unable to record a competitive lap time in the final qualifying session as Mercedes' George Russell snatched his maiden pole ahead of both Ferraris.

Verstappen had struggled for grip on his first run, under-steering wide at Turn Two, and then lost power for his second run.

His Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez also had a bad day and qualified 11th.

E.Raimundo--PC