Max Verstappen damage analysed after rare Red Bull mistake

Max Verstappen struggled his way to sixth on the grid for the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint race, being out-qualified by his team-mate for the first time all season. 

Yuki Tsunoda will be fifth, but Verstappen's big off during the first runs of SQ3 at Turn 4 proved fatal for his chances of improving further up the grid and challenging title rivals Oscar Piastri on pole and Lando Norris in third.

After he skated through the gravel, also branding his car as "bouncing like an idiot" Viaplay conducted an analysis of the off, showing Verstappen has sustained damage to a critical part of his floor.

The t-tray at the front of the floor is where the airflow first hits the underside of the car and directs air to the rear. It is a crucial aerodynamic tool. 

However, analysis of Verstappen's car immediately after the gravel strike showed damage to the t-tray, and possibly further under the floor.

Given the importance of running the car as low as possible to the ground to aid in creating the ground effects needed for performance, Verstappen's damage could have proved costly, as he also predicted he would move backwards during the 19-lap Sprint.