Four-time World Champion Max Verstappen’s start to life in the new generation of Formula One cars has made a horror start, crashing out of qualifying just moments into his first flying lap.
The Dutchman was one of the last cars to enter Albert Park for Q1 after Mercedes driver George Russell set a scorching early benchmark.
But Verstappen found himself plummeting towards the tyre barrier at nearly 300km/h before even entering the first corner after braking as his car’s engine attempted to switch between its combustion engine and electrical turbo, locking the rear axle.
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It sent the back of the Red Bull skidding away from the turn, meaning the 28-year-old was merely a passenger as his car careened through the gravel trap and into the barriers.
The incident ended his session and caused a red flag, meaning Verstappen will start at the back of the grid for Sunday’s season-opening Grand Prix.
The red flag was a stroke of luck for Mercedes, who were engaged in a race against time to rebuild Kimi Antonelli’s car after he obliterated the back end with a major shunt during Saturday morning’s practice.
Australia’s Oscar Piastri put in strong first laps to sit comfortably inside the top three, while Audi appears to have shed the troubles of their Sauber past to lead the mid-pack teams.
Neither Lance Stroll of Aston Martin nor Carlos Sainz for Williams made it onto the track, meaning they joined Cadillac pair Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as well as Fernando Alonso, in being eliminated.
