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Max Verstappen crashed on a reconnaissance lap ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, damaging the front-left of his Red Bull, but his team managed to complete repairs in time for the start.
Verstappen locked up into the Turn 12 left-hander while on intermediates in wet conditions, and slid into the barrier on the outside – knocking his front-left wheel askew and breaking his front wing.
He reported that the damage was “suspension, everything” but made it round to the starting grid, where his Red Bull team began to frantically try to repair the RB16.
The accident happened under 25 minutes before the start of the race, giving the team limited time to get the car ready.
A dramatic moment pre-race as Max Verstappen crashes into the barriers minutes before the start 👀💥
Red Bull are assessing the damage on the grid now #HungarianGP 🇭🇺 #F1 pic.twitter.com/mdQHY2jYpP
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 19, 2020
Red Bull managed to replace the damaged suspension components and replace the front wing with seconds to spare before the grid had to be cleared, leading the grateful Verstappen to declare his team’s efforts “incredible work, unbelievable” over the radio.
Drivers push harder on reconnaissance laps in wet conditions to feel the grip, and McLaren driver Lando Norris was seen to run slightly off-track twice in quick succession.
Verstappen’s team-mate Alex Albon also reported on the reconnaissance laps that the car is “not easy to drive at all”.
Verstappen starts only seventh on a miserable weekend for Red Bull, which has struggled to get its car working as well as expected on a circuit that usually suits it.
Albon was knocked out in Q2, which led to Williams driver George Russell saying Red Bull is making Albon “look like an idiot”.
