Max Verstappen did not expect to start Formula 1’s Hungarian Grand Prix aft🦋er he crashed on his way to the gꦅrid, and labelled second place as feeling “like a victory”.

The 𒉰Red 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 toꦜ the grid.

Verstappen’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 “𝕴25 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 on𒅌 to claim second behind race-winner Lewis Hamilton.

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

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

"The first lap was very crucial and from there on, I think we had the right calls, and w🌊e had 🎀good pace.

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

Verstappen exᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚplained that the repaire😼d suspension felt “like new” from the start was “working like normal”.

Verstappen had to fend off a late attack from Va🍎ltteri Bottas as the Mercedes driver recovered to the podium after botching his start.

“I was just trying to do ⛄my own pa🐻ce,” he explained. “Of course I could see he was catching like a second a lap.

“But of ♋course following here is quite t🌼ricky so as soon as he was within one-and-a-half seconds it was a bit more difficult for him.

“Then in the last lap we had also traffic in front which didn’t m🀅ake it easier for me on those old tyres but we manag🎃ed to hang on and very happy with second.

“I thought I was not going to race so to be second is like a vic꧃tory today.”