F1 Hungarian GP: Verstappen crashes en route to grid, participation in doubt

Max Verstappen's participation in the 2020 Hungarian Grand Prix is in doubt after crashing his Red Bull Formula 1 car en route to the grid on Sunday

F1 Hungarian GP: Verstappen crashes en route to grid, participation in doubt

Rain in the build-up to the race start left the track wet, forcing drivers to complete their reconnaissance laps to the grid on the intermediate compound tyre.

Verstappen lost control of his car at Turn 12 on his way to the grid after locking the front-left tyre, losing the rear before sliding sideways into the barrier.

The collision tore the front wing from Verstappen's Red Bull RB16, and also left him with suspension damage.

The Dutchman reported over the radio that it was "suspension, everything" that was damaged, but managed to get his car to the grid, where he is due to start seventh.

The Red Bull team was seen finding a replacement front wing for Verstappen's car that was taken to the grid for repairs to continue.

Teams are permitted to complete repairs on the car under parc ferme conditions, but must replace all parts with those of the same specification.

It comes as the latest setback for the Red Bull team after a difficult weekend that saw both Verstappen and team-mate Alexander Albon struggle in qualifying on Saturday.

Verstappen could only qualify seventh, despite being talked up as a potential rival to Mercedes for race victory, while Albon failed to make it through Q2, finishing 13th.

Albon reported en route to the grid that the car was "hard to drive".

The Red Bull mechanics were seen on the grid working hard on the front of the car during the national anthem, leaving them in a race against time to get Verstappen into the race.

Should Verstappen fail to take the start, it would mark his first DNS in 105 F1 appearances.

Verstappen explained on Saturday after qualifying that the issues with the RB16 in Hungary were not set-up related, but the team was still unsure of why it was lacking so much balance.

"[There's] understeer, oversteer, lack of grip - not having a lot of top speed as well," Verstappen said.

"So everything together just makes it slow.

"Of course if we would have understood, then we would have changed it or made it better.

"But clearly something is wrong still. We're still looking into it."

shares
comments

Mercedes wary of "foolish and complacent" F1 race strategies while letting drivers fight

F1 Hungarian GP: Red Bull summoned by stewards for drying Albon's grid slot

How F1's new era has exposed the downside of its most important rule

How F1's new era has exposed the downside of its most important rule

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Jonathan Noble

How F1's new era has exposed the downside of its most important rule How F1's new era has exposed the downside of its most important rule

What next for Mercedes in its quest to get back to the top of F1?

What next for Mercedes in its quest to get back to the top of F1?

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
Alex Kalinauckas

What next for Mercedes in its quest to get back to the top of F1? What next for Mercedes in its quest to get back to the top of F1?

Why Piastri’s F1 homecoming will be a landmark occasion

Why Piastri’s F1 homecoming will be a landmark occasion

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Australian GP
GP Racing

Why Piastri’s F1 homecoming will be a landmark occasion Why Piastri’s F1 homecoming will be a landmark occasion

The recent Australian GP form history that will boost Ferrari in F1 2023

The recent Australian GP form history that will boost Ferrari in F1 2023

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Australian GP
Alex Kalinauckas

The recent Australian GP form history that will boost Ferrari in F1 2023 The recent Australian GP form history that will boost Ferrari in F1 2023

The cycle of F1 upheaval Williams must end to rediscover past glories

The cycle of F1 upheaval Williams must end to rediscover past glories

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
GP Racing

The cycle of F1 upheaval Williams must end to rediscover past glories The cycle of F1 upheaval Williams must end to rediscover past glories

The state of play in F1's technical silly season

The state of play in F1's technical silly season

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Jake Boxall-Legge

The state of play in F1's technical silly season The state of play in F1's technical silly season

Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers

Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Kevin Turner

Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers

Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries

Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
GP Racing

Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries