Sports · 7 March 2026
Verstappen crashes Q1, triggers red flag, starts 20th.
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Lukas Raich via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Four-time champion Max Verstappen sensationally crashed out during Q1 at Albert Park, triggering a session-halting red flag. The Red Bull driver lost control at Turn 1 after a sudden rear-axle lock under braking sent his RB22 into a 180-degree spin. Verstappen struck the barriers heavily, and while he exited the cockpit unassisted, he was seen clutching his wrist following the impact. This error leaves him starting from the back of the grid for Sunday’s season opener.
Reported by motorsport.com · How we write briefs