F1’S DEEPEST GRID-TO-PODIUM RECOVERIES SINCE 2014
Since F1’s turbo-hybrid era began in 2014, only five recoveries have taken a driver from P20 or lower on the grid to the podium.
The 2014 season introduced 1.6-litre V6 turbo-hybrid power units, providing a clear technical-era cutoff. This ranking covers races through the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix and orders the qualifying drives first by finishing position, then by places gained.
P2 FINISHERS
SEBASTIAN VETTEL — 2019 GERMAN GP
P20 → P2 - Vettel started 20th at Hockenheim and finished second, gaining 18 places. In a rain-hit race marked by changing conditions and multiple retirements, he reached the podium 7.333 seconds behind winner Max Verstappen.
MAX VERSTAPPEN — 2021 RUSSIAN GP
P20 → P2 - Verstappen started last after taking a new power unit and finished second, gaining 18 places. A late switch to intermediate tyres as rain arrived transformed his recovery drive into a podium finish.
P3 FINISHERS
LEWIS HAMILTON — 2016 BELGIAN GP
P21 → P3 - Hamilton started 21st after multiple power-unit penalties and finished third. He avoided the opening-lap incidents and advanced through the field during a race interrupted by a Safety Car and red flag.
LEWIS HAMILTON — 2014 GERMAN GP
P20 → P3 - Hamilton started 20th following a qualifying brake failure and gearbox-change penalty, then recovered to third behind Nico Rosberg and Valtteri Bottas.
CARLOS SAINZ — 2019 BRAZILIAN GP
P20 → P3 - Sainz started last after a power-unit problem prevented him from setting a qualifying time. He finished fourth on the road and was promoted to third after Lewis Hamilton received a five-second post-race penalty.
