Max Verstappen X-ray update, Mercedes late penalty decision, Aston Martin break F1 rule

Max Verstappen X-ray update, Mercedes late penalty decision, Aston Martin break F1 rule

• George Russell dominated to secure pole position for Mercedes in the opening qualifying session of 2026. He topped the timesheets to lock out an all-Mercedes front row for Sunday's race.
• Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli secured second place despite a heavy practice crash earlier in the day. He retained his starting spot after stewards cleared him of two post-qualifying penalty investigations.
• Max Verstappen's session ended in disaster when a bizarre brake failure caused a massive crash. The world champion's rear axle locked up into the barriers before he could even set a flying lap.
• After the heavy impact, Verstappen visited the medical centre, and an X-ray confirmed he had avoided broken bones, leaving Red Bull facing significant repairs ahead of Sunday.
• Aston Martin's Lance Stroll failed to set a qualifying lap due to unresolved engine issues. The team successfully presented evidence to overcome the 107 per cent rule, ensuring he can race.