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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen believes he had the pace to finish on the podium at the Hungarian Grand Prix before being stymied by Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.
Verstappen remained within touching distance of Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo across the first stint at the Hungaroring but was undercut by Sebastian Vettel during the initial pit stop phase.
Verstappen's position was exacerbated as he filtered in behind Raikkonen, who was running an alternate strategy, and the Dutchman slipped behind the Ricciardo/Vettel scrap.
Verstappen moved into fifth place when Raikkonen pitted and repelled a sequence of attacks from the Finn to maintain the position until the chequered flag.
"The pace was there for a podium," he said.
"I felt like I had a good start and got close to Lewis [Hamilton into Turn 1 but then ran out of track and couldn’t brake late.
"After the first stop it was very frustrating to be behind a Ferrari at the start on the fresher tyres.
"It was a shame because at the beginning we were quick and I tried to create a gap to the Ferraris which lead to me having to back off as I got too close to the car in front.
2This meant when I pitted I got out behind them both and that was pretty much my race done.
"Being behind meant I destroyed my tyres trying to find a pass so the opportunities went away as the race went on."
