Despite a terrible opening to the Hungarian Grand Prix, Romain Grosjean was able to get his strategy right to finish seventh, securing his fifth points finish of the season.
The Lotus F1 Team driver fell down the order from his top ten grid slot on the opening lap, including taking a trip through the Hungaroring gravel after being pushed off the circuit by Carlos Sainz Jr, but recovered superbly to be in position to split the two Mercedes drivers of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at the chequered flag.
He was also able to recover from a penalty handed to him for an unsafe pit release when his team let him go into the path of Felipe Massa.
“I think today was an incredible race; it was an incredible weekend,” said Grosjean. “Being in the top ten in qualifying yesterday was a miracle and today was actually beautiful; we really pushed hard and it was good, we deserved some points.
“I had a terrible start, lost a lot of spaces and I was pushed into the gravel by Carlos Sainz on the first lap. Then I came back on track and couldn’t pass the McLaren. Then there was a penalty for an unsafe release and then the safety car.
“But we got the strategy right and, after all that, we ended up in P7 fighting with the Mercedes.”