Four-time world champion Max Verstappen will start from the back of the grid at the Australian Grand Prix after crashing out during a dramatic opening segment of qualifying at Albert Park.

Australia’s Oscar Piastri was left to settle for fifth in qualifying as the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli claimed the front row of the grid, asserting their claims as early season favourites.

Antonelli may face the wrath of the stewards, though, after a bizarre incident that saw Kiwi Liam Lawson run over a cooling component dragged onto the track by Antonelli from the pits.

The incident will be investigated with any penalties to be revealed before Sunday’s race.

Isack Hadjar rounded out the top three on his Red Bull debut, followed by Charles Leclerc and the Mclaren duo of Piastri and reigning world champion Lando Norris.

However the biggest drama in the session came early when Verstappen’s Red Bull locked up, sending him into the wall at Albert Park.  

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has crashed out of qualifying at the Melbourne GP

Verstappen lost control of his Red Bull when the rear axle locked up after braking 

Verstappen’s Red Bull needed to be removed from the track the red flag brought out early in qualifying

The Red Bull Racing superstar lost control entering the first turn, spinning violently before sliding into the gravel trap and hitting the wall. The crash immediately brought out a red flag as marshals rushed to the scene.

Verstappen had not yet posted a time, meaning the Dutchman was instantly eliminated from the session.

‘The car just f***ing locked on the rear axles, fantastic,’ Verstappen said over team radio moments after the crash.

Despite the heavy impact, early radio messages suggested the reigning champion was okay. 

However, television footage showed Verstappen shaking his hand and wrist as he climbed from the car before heading toward the medical centre for precautionary checks.

The crash compounds what has already been a difficult start to the weekend for Red Bull.

Verstappen had suffered another scare during practice on Friday when he ran wide at Turn 10 and skidded through the gravel. While he managed to avoid hitting the wall during that incident, the trip through the trap caused significant damage.

As the car bounced through the gravel, carbon fibre debris flew from underneath the Red Bull after the floor was shredded by the impact.

British driver George Russell got Mercedes off to a bright start, claiming pole position in the Australian GP

Fellow Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli took the other place at the top of the grid while Isack Hadjar rounded out the top three on his Red Bull debut

Aussie Oscar Piastri set the early pace but was forced to settle for fifth spot on the grid

Assessing the situation afterwards, Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan admitted the team faced a significant repair job.

‘I’ll say there’s enough to keep us busy,’ Monaghan said.

The qualifying crash is a stunning setback for Verstappen, who has dominated the sport in recent seasons.

The Dutchman has won four Formula One World Drivers’ Championships (2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024) and amassed 71 race victories, 48 pole positions and 127 podium finishes during his career with Red Bull.

Melbourne has also been a happy hunting ground for the champion in recent years. Verstappen claimed victory at Albert Park in 2023 with a lights-to-flag win and triumphed again in 2024 before a mechanical issue ended his race prematurely after a strong start.

But this time the weekend has unravelled before the race has even begun.

Chaos again struck at the start of the final qualifying session when Antonelli exited the pits with part of a cooling element still attached to his car. 

The component fell off at Turn 1 and was left stranded on the racing line before Lando Norris struck it moments later. 

Race stewards will investigate the incident involving Antonelli that saw a cooling element dragged onto the track

The impact caused the debris to explode across the track, forcing race control to immediately deploy a red flag. 

Antonelli is likely to be investigated over the incident, capping off a miserable day that included a crash in the third practice session that forced his team to go into overdrive to have his Mercedes ready for qualifying.

Despite the dramas, he still managed to finish on the front row of the grid. 

There was also a near disaster in the pit lane when Gabriel Bortoleto’s Audi crawled to a halt midway up the pit entry. 

Liam Lawson slowed behind him, forcing teammate Arvid Lindblad to slam on the brakes to avoid ploughing into the back of the queue.