F1 News

Verstappen set fourth fastest lap in Hungary despite "half a car"

4 August 2021 at 12:55
Last update 4 August 2021 at 13:55
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  • GPblog.com

Just like in Silverstone, Max Verstappen will have imagined the race at the Hungaroring to be very different. After a hard-fought crash on the English circuit, the Dutchman wanted to get his money's worth on the track but was hit again by a Mercedes at the first corner. This time it was Valtteri Bottas who did the honours for the Brackley-based team.

Not bad with half a car

While Bottas' crash proved to be the end for Sergio Perez and Lando Norris, Verstappen was able to continue his race, albeit heavily battered with a lot of damage. The Dutchman limped to the back of the field with half a car, and was deeply embroiled in battles with drivers who normally only see a Red Bull Racing car in their mirrors when they've been blue-flagged.

Verstappen, for example, fought out a spectacular battle with Mick Schumacher and his Haas. That Red Bull Racing were impressed by the Dutchman's overtaking of a Haas car was clear from the radio message of GP Lambiase, Max's race engineer: "Not bad with only half a car."

Fourth fastest race lap

What was perhaps even more impressive was that Verstappen, who also managed to finish in the points, still managed to set the fourth fastest race lap with his badly damaged car. Pierre Gasly set the fastest lap, followed by Hamilton and Alonso. Even race winner Esteban Ocon couldn't match the time of Verstappen, who could only drive with half a car.