“Thought I Was the Biggest Idiot Ever” – Max Verstappen on Pre-Race F1 Crash in Hungary
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Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 13, 2020 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates winning the race Pool via REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Red Bull set a record time at Hungaroring last season when Max Verstappen crashed his car with just minutes to go for the race. The team managed an emergency repair and had the car ready and on the grid just in time with less than a minute to go.
But what went wrong at that starting lap?
Verstappen opened up about the incident in a recent interview and explained what went wrong on that wet Hungaroring track.
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“I wanted to synchronize eighth gear and had in mind the run to turn four. There (in the rain, ed.) My top speed was not high enough. And then I thought it might very well be that that particular straight piece could be done. and I actually succeeded.”
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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DECEMBER 01: Second placed Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates with donuts on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
“But then I quickly thought ‘now I have braked too late’. I tried everything to keep the wheels from locking up, but there was no grip and at some point you have to brace yourself anyway,” said the Red Bull driver.
“I thought I was the biggest idiot ever. But the weekend wasn’t too good until then and I didn’t want to say goodbye like this”
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Max Verstappen lauds the team for the quickest recovery
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The Dutchman acknowledged that it was a stupid accident. He was quick on his feet and instead of giving up, he reversed the car and took it back to the grid. Thankfully, the team conjured up a brilliant recovery and Verstappen recalls how the car felt after that.
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MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – Race winner Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during the Formula One Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
“Everything was just perfect. The toe was right, the steering wheel was straight, and where you normally have to measure everything thoroughly, everything was right immediately. the car after that repair is faster than before,” said the Dutchman.
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Max Verstappen had a difficult weekend ahead of the race and was not prepared to back down before crossing the finish line. After he was back on the grid, he drove his Red Bull from P7 on the grid to P2 at the end of the race.
Do you think we will see such brilliant moments of recovery this season as well?
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