Hadjar Suggests Cause of Verstappen Crash

Isack Hadjar believes a problem with the straight line mode system may have contributed to Max Verstappen's crash during qualifying for the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.

Verstappen lost control of his RB22 at Turn 9 on his final Q3 lap before sliding through the gravel and into the barriers. The accident left the Red Bull Racing driver fifth on the starting grid.

According to Hadjar, the rear wing may not have returned to its normal position as Verstappen approached the final corner. He suggested the issue could be linked to the upgrade package introduced by the team.

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"I think he had an issue with his straight mode. It was not closing properly going into the last corner, so I think that is related to the upgrades."

Hadjar qualified eighth but admitted he was still struggling with the braking performance of the RB22 throughout the Spielberg weekend.

"It was better today, but it is still not our strong point, and I am struggling on the brakes. I just can't smash the brakes. I'm a late braker, a heavy braker, and this weekend I've not been able to use any of that."

While Hadjar offered a possible explanation for Verstappen's accident, he did not confirm it as the definitive cause. Red Bull is expected to analyse the data before the race to determine exactly what triggered the crash.