The work that Red Bull carried out to Max Verstappen’s damaged RB16 on the grid should usually have taken 90 minutes, according to team boss Christian Horner.
Wet weather struck the Hungaroring during the build-up to Formula 1’s Hungarian Grand Prix and drivers went to the grid on Intermediate tyres.
But Verstappen locked up under braking for Turn 12 and skated across the run-off before colliding with the barriers.
The RB16 sustained front-left suspension damage but Verstappen was able to hobble back to the grid, where Red Bull’s mechanics frantically got to work on attempting a repair job.
Verstappen’s car was fixed with just seconds to spare before the five-minute signal, at which point the wheels must be fitted to the car, meaning Red Bull avoided a penalty.
Verstappen went on to surge from seventh to third on a damp opening lap and swiftly took second from Lance Stroll, retaining the position through to the chequered flag.
“I think Max went off three times on that lap to the grid,” said Horner.
“The third one looked pretty terminal so we could immediately see the track rod and the push rod was broken, the big question was had it done the wishbone as well? If it had done the wishbone that would have been game over.
“We decided to drive the car to the grid and do our best to repair the car on the grid.
“The mechanics did an unbelievable job. What would usually take an hour and a half they did in 20 minutes and with about 25 seconds to go.
“Full credit to them because without them that result wouldn’t have been possible.”
Horner said Red Bull was nonetheless anxious that Verstappen’s off could have damaged internal components within the RB16.
“Always at the back of your mind when you have a thump like that its quite concerning to think what about the components you haven’t been able to see,” he said.
“Max was able to put it out of his mind and was obviously a bit embarrassed on the grid having caused that amount of work but he repaid them in the best possible way by putting in the drive that he did.
“We’ll obviously get the car back and fully inspect it, but it did its job.”
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