Max Verstappen has actually been electrifying in the previous couple of years, destroying team mates for enjoyable and niggling at the Mercedes in what has been an inferior Red Bull vehicle. On Sunday he committed a primary sin: crashing his cars and truck on the method to the grid.
Its a quite unusual mistake, and only sometimes occurs in very challenging conditions, as we had for the start on Sunday in Hungary. The last male to do it was Romain Grosjean in Brazil 2016, in tremendously wet weather, and coincidentally from 7th put on the grid– the same starting berth as Verstappen.
Grosjean didnt begin the race that day and when the extent of the damage on Verstappens vehicle became obvious it appeared he too would need to be a spectator in a race which would have matched him down to the ground.
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Crashing on the recce lap to the grid seems an outrageous error to make– and quite honestly it is– however its actually simpler done than people would picture, particularly in treacherous conditions.
Hungarian GP: Verstappen crashes before the race
As he trundled to the grid it seemed clear he would not race. Changing suspension parts takes far longer than the amount of time Red Bull needed to make the repair work– around 25 minutes.
Verstappen was pressing plainly harder than many, and it was apparent seeing his lap that he was on the ragged edge even before he struck the wall, having lurid oversteers through many preceding corners.
Those two or 3 laps are a motorists just chance to feel the grip in those conditions before the lights head out and they are racing complete speed with automobiles all around them. Due to the fact that you do not desire to be unconcerned to the grip level when the race begins, its natural that drivers get close to the limitation in these circumstances.
And Ive hardly ever seen anyone hit it when you drive the Hungaroring the wall feels quite far away at Turn 12. This probably led Verstappen to think it was a good location to press the braking limitations, feeling there was lots of run if he overcooked it. However overcook it he did, and when he panic-downshifted with the front wheels locked, the rears nabbed also and he was sent careering into the barriers.
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Verstappens RB16 following his pre-race crash on Sunday
It goes to reveal what an absolutely incredible task the Red Bull mechanics did, in a cauldron of pressure – on the grid, with the clock ticking, the video cameras around and the world enjoying on. In some way, extraordinarily, they repaired the automobile and had the left front wheel on 30 seconds prior to the deadline.
Mercedes were so sure that the cars and truck couldnt be fixed they need to have informed Lewis Hamilton that Verstappen would not be making the start before he entered into his automobile. Which provoked the funny I believed you said Verstappens out? comment over the radio as he was told early in the race that the car behind was undoubtedly the Red Bull guy.
WATCH IN FULL: Red Bulls amazing repair work job on Verstappens car on the grid in Hungary
Ive been in that position prior to, when my cars and truck has had problems on the grid and you do not know if you will start or not. It was even worse for Verstappen because it was his error that had put their race in jeopardy.
Eventually theres absolutely nothing the chauffeur can do at that point. Formula 1 is a team sport and this is where the mechanics, a few of the most highly proficient in the world, can make their keep.
Crash to P2 – Max Verstappens extraordinary Hungarian GP recovery
Verstappen went about his service on the grid in the normal way, and did an excellent task of blanking out the furore around his grid spot and concentrating on the race ahead, as highlighted by his dazzling start.
By the time the lights went out he was back into normal Max Verstappen mode and got his head down and elbows out, making a fantastic start and optimising the wet conditions as he always seems to do, to get himself into that second place behind Hamilton.
On the formation lap he would have been nervous and maybe done a few additional weaves early on to ensure the cars and truck felt regular and reacted to his inputs correctly.
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Finishing 2nd from seventh on the grid appeared not likely enough on Sunday morning for a team that had had a hard time for pace all weekend, not to mention one that had to deal with a bent vehicle parked in its grid area just minutes before the race.
This presumably led Verstappen to believe it was a great place to press the braking limits, feeling there was plenty of run off if he overcooked it. Mercedes were so sure that the cars and truck couldnt be repaired they need to have told Lewis Hamilton that Verstappen wouldnt be making the start before he got into his car. Ive been in that position before, when my car has had concerns on the grid and you dont understand if you will begin or not. Its a difficult time to get your mind on the start of the race. It was even worse for Verstappen because it was his error that had actually put their race in jeopardy.
Crossing the goal because same location, despite pressure from the quick approaching Valtteri Bottas late on, sealed an impressive result for Red Bull, that paid back the mechanics for their frantic deal with the grid.
