Max Verstappen was puzzled after the crash in qualifying in Melbourne. How could this happen? “I don’t know, I’ve never experienced anything like this in my career.” It now appears to be due to a one-off software problem.
Read more Mekies cites ‘learning process’ after challenging FP2: ‘Knowledge of the car is limited’
When asked, Verstappen looked back on the bizarre moment when, already in his first flying lap, the rear of the car immediately failed and he hit the wall hard with the car. “I just braked and suddenly the entire rear axle locked up, out of nowhere. That’s something I’ve never experienced before.”
It means there is work to be done for Red Bull to find out why things went so wrong for Verstappen. Especially when he indicates that it is something he has never experienced before. A telling observation given his excellent qualities and now extensive experience.
Read more Zak Brown calms tempers: ‘F1 regulations can be adjusted quickly and easily’
Also read: Hard hit for Verstappen in Melbourne qualifying (with video)
The first reports from the paddock in Australia seem to indicate that the cause is a software problem, resulting in an unprecedentedly high regeneration of energy and therefore a locking rear end of the car. If so, it should be something incidental and relatively simple to solve.
Read more Piastri predicts ‘tricky’ qualifying, places McLaren behind Ferrari and Mercedes
Read everything about the Australian GP here
