Max Verstappen has crashed out of qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix in a shock start to the new Formula 1 season.
The four-time world champion spun his Red Bull at Turn 1 midway through the opening session in Melbourne.
Verstappen bounced across the gravel trap before hitting the wall, ending his participation in Q1.
It means the Dutchman will start from the back of the grid for Sunday’s race.
‘Fantastic’ frustration for champion
Verstappen emerged from the cockpit unhurt but was immediately vocal about technical issues over the team radio.
The incident occurred as he applied the brakes, causing the car to snap unexpectedly.
“The car just f***ing locked the rear axles. Fantastic.”
Max Verstappen via team radio
Struggles with new era
This dramatic exit marks a turbulent beginning to Formula 1’s latest technical era.
The Red Bull driver has already been a vocal critic of the sport’s new cars.
Drivers are facing a complicated new driving style due to the increased emphasis on battery management within the revised hybrid engines.
Formula 1 has confirmed a sweeping set of regulation changes for the 2026 season, introducing active aerodynamics and a revised qualifying format to accommodate an expanded grid.
The sport is preparing for one of the most significant technical overhauls in its history.
Regulations have been updated to reflect the arrival of General Motors brand Cadillac, bringing the field to 11 teams and 22 cars.
Active aerodynamics replace DRS
The traditional Drag Reduction System (DRS) will be retired in favour of a new active aerodynamic setup.
Cars will feature adjustable front and rear wings that transition between two distinct configurations.
Drivers will utilise ‘Z-Mode’ to generate maximum downforce through corners.
On designated straights, they can switch to a low-drag ‘X-Mode’ regardless of their proximity to other competitors.
To facilitate wheel-to-wheel action, a ‘Manual Override’ function has been introduced.
When within one second of the car ahead, a driver can deploy an additional burst of electrical energy to maintain high speeds for longer than their rival.
Engine overhaul and sustainable fuels
The 2026 power units have been redesigned to deliver an equal split between internal combustion and electrical power.
Complex heat recovery systems, known as the MGU-H, have been removed from the regulations.
To compensate, the output of the kinetic energy recovery system (MGU-K) has been tripled.
The FIA has also revised start procedures to allow drivers to build engine revs, countering potential turbo lag caused by the removal of the MGU-H.
Environmental sustainability remains a priority, with all cars running on 100% sustainable ‘drop-in’ fuel.
This fuel is derived from non-food sources or atmospheric carbon capture and functions without requiring combustion chamber redesigns.
Qualifying format adjusted for 22 cars
The expansion of the grid to 22 cars has necessitated changes to the knockout qualifying format.
Six drivers will now be eliminated at the end of both Q1 and Q2, an increase from the previous five.
This ensures that the final pole position shootout remains a battle between the top 10 cars.
The duration of Q3 has also been extended to 13 minutes.
This change provides teams with additional time to recharge batteries between flying laps, preventing the session from feeling rushed.
Max Verstappen has received FIA permission to race with the number three this season after reigning world champion Lando Norris elected to use the number one on his McLaren.
The Red Bull driver has been forced to relinquish the number one plate he carried for the previous four years following his championship defeat to Norris.
McLaren’s Norris, who secured his maiden Formula 1 title last year, confirmed in December he would exercise his right to swap his customary number four for the champion’s number one.
While drivers are not obliged to carry the number one, the regulations allow the reigning champion exclusive rights to the digit for the duration of their title defence.
Returning to a favourite
Consequently, the Dutchman has opted to revert to his favourite number, three, rather than the number 33 he used prior to his first title triumph in 2021.
However, this required special dispensation from the FIA as the number was previously utilized by Daniel Ricciardo.
Formula 1 sporting regulations stipulate a racing number must remain dormant for two consecutive seasons before it can be reallocated to another competitor.
Since it has been fewer than two years since the Australian’s final race, Verstappen had to seek approval from both the governing body and his former team-mate.
“It won’t be number 33. My favourite number has always been three, apart from number one,” Verstappen told Viaplay.
“We can now swap, so it’ll be number three. The rules state that a number isn’t available until it hasn’t been used for two consecutive seasons.”
“Number 33 was always fine, but I just like one three better than two. I always said it represented double luck, but I’ve already had my luck in Formula One.”
New numbers for the new season
Verstappen becomes only the second driver to race under the number three since the personalised numbering system was introduced in 2014.
Aside from the reshuffle at the front of the grid, the majority of returning drivers have retained their existing identities for the new campaign.
Valtteri Bottas will continue his long association with number 77, while Sergio Perez remains faithful to number 11, a tribute to former footballer Ivan Zamorano.
The grid’s sole rookie, British teenager Arvid Lindblad, has selected number 41 for his debut season.
The newcomer explained that the digits were chosen as they visually resemble his initials, ‘AL’, making him the first driver to race with the number in the modern era.
Tyler Reddick could become the first driver in NASCAR history to win the opening four races of a season when the Cup Series heads to Phoenix Raceway this Sunday.
The 23XI Racing driver has enjoyed a flawless start to the 2026 campaign, securing victory in the first three events of the year.
Having already taken the chequered flag at the Daytona 500, Atlanta and the Circuit of the Americas, he now stands on the brink of an unprecedented achievement.
Since the sport’s top level launched in 1949, no competitor has ever commenced a season with four consecutive triumphs.
Phoenix poses distinct challenge
The Toyota pilot, driving for the team co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, faces a different test on the one-mile flat layout in Arizona.
While the No. 45 car has conquered superspeedways and road courses this term, historical form at this venue suggests a difficult task ahead.
In 12 previous starts at Phoenix, the Californian has recorded an average finish of 17.8, securing just two top-five results.
However, recent form has defied statistics, with his victories at Daytona and Atlanta coming despite modest previous averages at those tracks.
Chasing legends of the sport
By winning the first three rounds, the 23XI star has already separated himself from historical benchmarks set by legendary figures.
While teams like DePaolo Engineering in 1957 and Petty Enterprises in 1963 swept the opening three events, those victories were shared between team-mates.
Richard Petty, the seven-time champion, famously won 10 consecutive races during the 1967 season.
Yet even ‘The King’ never managed to open a championship crusade with four straight wins, highlighting the rarity of the air Reddick now occupies.
George Russell says watching Lando Norris celebrate his maiden Formula 1 world championship has “fuelled” his desire to emulate his compatriot in 2026.
The Mercedes driver enters this weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix as the bookmakers’ favourite to claim the drivers’ crown.
Russell admitted he consciously stayed in his car following the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi to witness the scenes as his long-time friend secured the trophy.
“I watched Lando celebrate and I sat in my car as I pulled in from the pits in Abu Dhabi,” said Russell.
“I wanted to watch because I thought that would fuel me more, and I think it has.”
Mercedes primed for title charge
While the 28-year-old is tipped for individual glory, the Silver Arrows are also aiming to secure their first Constructors’ Championship since 2021.
This season marks the Briton’s fifth year with the Brackley-based outfit and his eighth campaign in the sport.
Russell believes the team has done everything possible to prepare for the new regulation cycle.
“I feel ready to give it everything and that’s ultimately all we can do,” added Russell.
“We don’t know what will happen but I know I’m giving it everything and my team are giving it everything.”
Norris plays down defence chances
The pair have battled on track since their junior karting days and frequently exchange playful barbs in the media.
Despite entering the new campaign as the defending champion, Norris was quick to shift the pressure onto his rival’s team.
When asked about the title picture, the McLaren driver insisted Mercedes should be considered the team to beat.
“Mercedes have looked very good but it’s a very long year, so I’m not getting ahead of myself,” Norris told Sky Sports.
The 26-year-old also faced questions regarding Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who partners Russell this year following the team’s lineup changes.
“You never know! Just saying Mercedes are [favourites],” Norris joked.
Formula 1 has no plans to replace the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix if the races are cancelled because of the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The events, scheduled for mid-April, remain in serious doubt following military action in the region.
A final decision on whether the rounds will proceed is expected to be made by 20 March at the latest.
BBC Sport understands that should the races not take place, the 2026 calendar will be reduced from 24 rounds to 22.
While venues such as Portimao in Portugal and Imola in Italy were mooted as potential alternatives, there is insufficient time to organise the logistics.
Cancellation would result in a significant five-week break between the Japanese Grand Prix in late March and the Miami round in May.
Domenicali prioritises safety
Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali emphasised that the safety of all personnel remains the primary concern for the sport’s governing body.
“First of all, our approach is safety for all of the relevant stakeholders, people and the promoter itself,” Domenicali said.
“We don’t want to make any statement today because things are evolving and we still have time to make the right decision.”
The Italian administrator insisted the championship would remain “quiet and calm” while monitoring the geopolitical situation.
“This decision will be taken together,” he added.
Travel disruption affects season opener
The paddock is currently in Melbourne for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, though preparations have been hampered by logistical challenges.
Several team personnel faced difficulties reaching Australia due to flight cancellations and re-routing issues through the Gulf region.
Pirelli was forced to abandon a scheduled tyre test in Bahrain last week which was set to involve McLaren and Mercedes.
“It has not been an easy week,” Domenicali admitted regarding the travel chaos.
“We had a lot of flights booked through the Middle East, so it has been a very intense couple of days to reschedule everything with the help of the governments.”
Curfew restrictions in the Melbourne paddock have been relaxed to assist teams struggling with late freight arrivals caused by the disruption.
Charles Leclerc led team-mate Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari one-two during opening practice at the Australian Grand Prix as the new Formula 1 era began in Melbourne.
The Monegasque driver replaced Hamilton in top spot with a late lap that moved him 0.469 seconds clear of the seven-time world champion.
Until that flying effort, less than 0.1 seconds had separated the Ferrari pair and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Rookies impress in season opener
Verstappen’s new team-mate Isack Hadjar was fourth fastest, finishing 0.820 seconds off the ultimate pace.
Behind him, 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad produced an eye-catching performance to take fifth on his debut for the Racing Bulls team.
Mercedes had arrived in Melbourne as favourites following pre-season testing but endured a relatively low-key start to the campaign.
George Russell ended the hour seventh fastest, trailing the pace-setters by over a second and finishing behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
Aston Martin’s engine nightmare
While Ferrari flourished, Aston Martin suffered a predictably difficult session amid severe technical concerns regarding their Honda power units.
Fernando Alonso was unable to complete a single lap due to a significant problem with his car’s engine.
His team-mate Lance Stroll fared little better, managing just three laps before a similar issue forced him back to the garage.
Team principal Adrian Newey had previously revealed that vibrations from the power unit were so severe they risked causing permanent nerve damage to Alonso’s hands.
This latest setback appears to confirm the engine is currently falling well below the required Formula 1 reliability standards.
Champion Norris hits trouble
It was a difficult start to the season for McLaren, whose session was heavily afflicted by gearbox problems.
Reigning world champion Lando Norris finished down in 18th place after limited running.
Elsewhere, Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli was eighth fastest, finishing just ahead of the Audi of Gabriel Bortoleto.
Bortoleto’s team-mate Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top 10 for the German manufacturer.
Further back, the new Cadillac team avoided finishing last, with Sergio Perez setting the 19th fastest time ahead of Valtteri Bottas.
As always, practice times come with the caveat that fuel loads and engine modes remain unknown and can significantly skew performance data.
Lando Norris begins his defence of the Formula 1 World Championship as the 2026 season gets under way with Red Bull entering a bold new era of engine manufacturing.
The new campaign promises a renewed rivalry at the front of the grid.
While tribalism often dominates the grandstands, the 2026 field offers compelling narratives up and down the pit lane.
McLaren’s fight to stay on top
Under the leadership of Zak Brown, the Woking-based outfit has been rebuilt into a bold operation.
They enter the new season as the reigning constructors’ champions.
The team established a clear identity in 2025, prioritising fair racing even when the stakes were highest.
This conviction proved pivotal in their return to the summit of the sport.
Lando Norris
The Briton enters the new season as Formula 1’s newest world champion.
Despite his success, the 26-year-old continues to face scrutiny regarding his status among the sport’s all-time greats.
Watching Norris attempt to silence his remaining doubters will be a key theme of his championship defence.
Oscar Piastri
The Australian’s 2025 campaign ended in difficult fashion following a pivotal team order decision at Monza.
Piastri looked unstoppable for half of the previous year before his form dipped significantly.
He returns to the grid intent on settling unfinished business against his title-winning teammate.
Red Bull’s power unit revolution
The Milton Keynes squad has evolved from an energy drinks sponsor into a manufacturing powerhouse.
For 2026, the team has taken the significant gamble of building its own engine.
It is a move that could define their legacy as either a masterstroke or hubris.
Max Verstappen
The Dutchman continues to produce drives of exceptional quality.
His performances in 2025 demonstrated an ability to compete for victories regardless of his machinery’s dominance.
Verstappen remains the inevitable benchmark for raw performance on the grid.
Isack Hadjar
The French youngster is the latest driver tasked with the challenging role of partnering Verstappen.
Hadjar impressed with his rookie performances and brings significant self-belief to the second seat.
He aims to succeed where previous teammates have struggled in the high-pressure environment.
Ferrari’s search for glory
The Scuderia enters another season carrying the weight of a title drought dating back to 2008.
However, the Italian marquee has shown promising signs of speed ahead of the opener.
Tifosi around the world will be hoping this is finally the year the Maranello team changes the narrative.