Melbourne: Four-time world champion Max Verstappen will start the season-opening Australian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after a shocking crash during the first phase of qualifying on Saturday.

The Red Bull superstar, seeking a record-extending fourth consecutive title, lost control of his RB22 at the high-speed Turn 1. The car snapped under braking, pirouetting through the gravel before slamming into the barriers. The incident triggered an immediate red flag, halting the session for 15 minutes.

Verstappen, who had been struggling with a "nervous" rear end since Friday’s practice sessions, walked away uninjured but visibly frustrated. Because the accident occurred before he could post a competitive lap time, the Dutchman is expected to start Sunday's race from P20, pending potential gearbox or chassis penalties.

The crash follows a turbulent weekend for the champion, who missed significant running in Friday’s practice after damaging his car’s floor. While Verstappen dominated FP1, the sudden rear-end locking in Q1 has opened the door for rivals Ferrari and McLaren to seize the front row.

The session also saw a remarkable recovery for Mercedes' rookie Kimi Antonelli. After a violent 17G crash at Turn 2 in FP3 that left his W17 in pieces and his participation in doubt, the Mercedes mechanics performed a monumental repair job. Antonelli hit the ground running in Q1, showing immediate pace and briefly holding the top spot before comfortably advancing to Q2 in 6th place.