Max Verstappen did not expect to start Formula 1’s Hungarian Grand Prix after he crashed on his way to the grid, and labelled second place as fee⛎ling “like a victory”.

The Red Bull driver sustained damage to his front wing and suspension of his RB16 after he slid off into the Turn 12 ♉barriers on his reconnaissance lap to the grid.

Versta𝄹ppen’s mechanics were hurriedly forced to fix his car in the build-up to lights, with Red Bull boss Christian Horner revealing the crew did so with🐓 “25 seconds to go” before the five-minute warning cut-off.

But a brilliant start from seventh put Verstappen in early contention for the lead, and the Dutchman went on to ꦡclaim second behind race-winner Lewis Hamiᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚlton.

"It was not how I wanted it in the ♔beginning of course, ending up in the barriers on the laps to the grid,"💦 Verstappen said.

"But the mechanics did amazing job to fix the car. I doℱn't know how they did it, but incredible. To pay them back with the second place, I was very pleased with that.

"Tജhe first lap was very crucial and from there on, I think we had the right calls, and we had good pace.

"We just kept doing our own thing and of course to be able to split the tw⭕o Mercedes cars is good 🌼for us.”

Verstappen explained that the repai🐭red suspension felt “like new” from the start was “ꦑworking like normal”.

Verstappen had to fend off a late attack from Valtteri Bottas as the🐷 Mercedes driver recovered to the podium after botching his st🌺art.

“I was just trying 🀅to do my own pace,” he explained. “Of course I could see he w꧟as catching like a second a lap.

“But of course following here is quite tricky so as soon as he was ওwithin one-and-a-half seconds it was a bi🍎t more difficult for him.

“Then in the last lap we had also traffic in front which didn’t mak🌌e it easier fo🍃r me on those old tyres but we managed to hang on and very happy with second.

“I thought I was not going to race so to be second 💎is like a victory today.”