A disastrous start to the new Formula 1 season for the Dutch Red Bull driver, who will now be forced to start tomorrow’s Australian Grand Prix from the very back of the grid – or potentially even from the pit lane – after a dramatic crash during qualifying.
Crash at turn 1
The new era of Formula 1 has begun with a major incident involving the driver who dominated the previous generation of cars: Max Verstappen. The four-time world champion crashed heavily into the barriers at Turn 1 with approximately seven and a half minutes remaining in the Q1 session, just as he had begun his first flying lap.
At first glance, it appeared that the Red Bull driver might have made an unexpected mistake while attacking the corner. However, the first television replays and Verstappen’s own team radio message quickly ruled out the possibility of driver error.
The reason behind the off-track moment for the #3 car was in fact a sudden lock-up of the rear axle on the Red Bull RB22, which sent the Dutch driver spinning at high speed before he slammed into the barriers. The violent accident immediately brought out a red flag during the qualifying session.
The interruption turned out to be particularly useful for the Mercedes mechanics, who were able to complete the repair work on the car of Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The young Italian driver had earlier been involved in a heavy crash during the third free practice session, leaving his team with significant work to do before qualifying.
Verstappen was able to climb out of the car on his own without assistance, but he appeared to be experiencing pain in his hands, particularly in his right hand. A replay showed that he suffered a fairly significant jolt at the moment of impact with the barriers, which likely explains the discomfort he showed immediately after exiting the car.
The incident now puts the Red Bull driver in a very difficult position for Sunday’s race, as he will have no recorded lap time in Q1 and is therefore expected to start from the very back of the grid or potentially from the pit lane depending on the extent of the damage to his car.
The drama in Melbourne has turned the 2026 season opener on its head, with Max Verstappen’s mechanical failure proving that even the most dominant champions are vulnerable to the growing pains of new technical regulations. As Red Bull engineers scramble to diagnose the rear axle issue and assess the damage to the RB22, the Dutchman faces a daunting climb from the back of the pack in a race that has suddenly become a wide-open opportunity for his rivals.
Max Verstappen is OUT of Qualifying, with no time set! 😳
This is the moment where the Red Bull driver spins into the wall at Turn 1 👇#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/M2XKoapEMl
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 7, 2026
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