The Dutchman lost control of the rear of his Red Bull as he braked into Turn 1 at the Albert Park Circuit just before the halfway mark of Q1, with the four-time world champion immediately complaining over the radio about an issue with the rear axle.
“Car just f**cking locked on the rear axles. Fantastic,” he said as the team asked if he was okay.
Verstappen emerged from his RB22 largely unscathed, although he appeared to require slight attention to his right hand as he climbed out of the car.
The red flag has provided a reprieve for Mercedes and Kimi Antonelli, who are feverishly attempting repairs on his car to get him into qualifying after his heavy crash in final practice earlier in the day.
More to come.
