Perez escapes injury after Hungaroring flip

Sergio Perez has escaped unhurt following a dramatic crash during first free practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix, one that left his Force India upside down.

Appearing to suffer a right-rear suspension failure at high-speed as he exited the turn 11 right-hander, Perez was pitched into the opposing barrier nose-first before spin back onto the track. The front-wheel would then tuck beneath the chassis and flip it over.

Landing upside down, Perez was quickly able to scramble out of the heavily damaged VJM08 before he was taken to the medical centre for checks. He has since been discharged and he says he is unhurt.

"Thanks to God, everything is OK," Perez told the BBC seemingly unaware of the cause for the crash. "I lost the rear and went into the wall. On the Astroturf, it is very slippery.

"The car is quite badly damaged but hopefully we can recover and do a bit of second practice. I hope we can recover from this."

Perez had been in strong form prior to the crash and would end the session still eighth fastest, just 1.6secs from the front of the field.