Max Verstappen suffered a bizarre accident during Australian Grand Prix qualifying when his rear axle locked completely as he applied the brakes, causing the four-time world champion to spin off into the barriers.
The 28-year-old Dutchman was on his opening flying lap when the incident occurred approaching Turn 1, resulting in a high-speed spin through the gravel before a substantial impact with the wall.
Medical staff at the Melbourne circuit performed X-rays on Verstappen’s hands following the crash, with the Red Bull driver confirming he escaped injury.
Verstappen said: “All good. I just had to get some X-rays done to see if my hands were OK, but nothing was broken.”
The Red Bull driver was spotted examining his hands immediately after climbing out of the stricken RB22, though the medical team subsequently gave him the all-clear.
Verstappen will line up in 20th position for Sunday’s season-opener in Melbourne, marking his eighth elimination in the first qualifying session since beginning his Formula 1 career in 2015.
Carlos Sainz and Lance Stroll will share the back row with the Dutchman, having failed to participate in qualifying altogether.
The track’s medical centre is staffed by professionals from the nearby Albert hospital, situated just a few hundred yards from Turn 10.
Max Verstappen suffered a bizarre accident during Australian Grand Prix qualifying
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Verstappen expressed bewilderment at the mechanical failure, having not yet reviewed data with his engineers when speaking to media.
He explained: “I didn’t speak to the team yet or didn’t look into any data, but to lose the car like that on the braking, I’ve never experienced that in my life.”
The Dutchman described how the problem manifested instantly upon touching the brake pedal.
Verstappen said: “I hit the pedal and suddenly the whole rear axle just completely locked up, so definitely a bit weird.”
He added the issue appeared to occur before he even downshifted, with the rear locking “on the peak of the brake pressure”.
Max Verstappen was on his opening flying lap when the incident occurred
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Verstappen made it clear his dissatisfaction with the current generation of machinery operating under the 2026 regulations.
He said: “I’m definitely not having fun at all with these cars,”
“The formula is just not correct.
“And that is something that is a bit harder to change. But I think we need to.”
Medical staff at the Melbourne circuit performed X-rays on Nax Verstappen’s hands following the crash
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The Dutchman had previously voiced criticism of the power unit regulations before his qualifying mishap.
His teammate Isack Hadjar salvaged some pride for Red Bull by securing third place in his debut season, though he finished nearly eight tenths behind pole-sitter George Russell, who led a Mercedes front-row lockout alongside Kimi Antonelli.
Norris, who trailed pole-sitter George Russell by almost a second, took aim at the new regulations, claiming “we have gone from the best cars ever made to the worst”.
The British driver said: “We’ve come from the best cars ever made in Formula One, and the nicest to drive, to probably the worst. It sucks.”
