Sergio Perez demonstrated impressive skill to avoid losing control of his Red Bull as allergies got the better of him during practice in Budapest.
The Mexican was driving at high speed down the start/finish straight during the first practice session of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend when the moment occurred. Sky Sports' TV coverage showed him contact his team over the radio before he began sneezing.
"Bless you," was the response from his race engineer as Perez let out a small giggle as his sneezing fit subsided. "I'm getting a bit of allergy around this place," he added as he turned into the first corner.
Former racer Anthony Davidson was stunned by the footage, as he remarked: "I've never sneezed in a racing car before, ever – I don't know about you." And fellow pundit Johnny Herbert replied: "Out of the car yes, but when you get in it, it all seems to disappear."
Davidson added: "I'm amazed by that, maybe it's the adrenaline or something but I thought it was impossible to sneeze when you're driving... honestly I've never seen that in a racing car."
Presenter Natalie Pinkham's mind was focussed on just how badly it could have gone wrong as she suggested Perez might have been in a lot more trouble at other venues. "This isn't such a bad track to do it – you don't want to be doing that going down the straight at Baku or in Shanghai," she pointed out.
But on this occasion Perez was fine, though he looked a little off the pace in the session. His best time was only good enough for sixth and almost a second off the pace of Carlos Sainz, who pipped Max Verstappen to go fastest in FP1.
