Red Bull Racing has issued a formal apology to Max Verstappen after a technical failure caused him to crash during qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix.
Team Principal Laurent Mekies confirmed that a sudden loss of aerodynamic performance led to the accident at the Red Bull Ring on Saturday afternoon, June 27, 2026.
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The incident occurred during the final part of qualifying, when Verstappen lost control and hit the tire wall.
The damage could force him to start Sunday's race from the pit lane.
Mekies stated that the problem originated in the rear wing of the RB22 car. He emphasized that the driver was not at fault.
"Max had no chance of keeping the car. We offer him our apologies as a team," Mekies said.
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Verstappen, a four-time world champion, had not crashed in qualifying since a brake issue in Australia three months earlier.
"The course of the incident was quite unusual," Mekies added.
"We lost aerodynamic performance at the rear of the car, for which we as a team take full responsibility."
Verstappen told Sky Sports that he had been struggling with the car's handling balance throughout that lap before losing rear traction at the penultimate turn.
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Despite the setback, Verstappen will start fifth on the grid, pending any penalties from the damage assessment.
