Max Verstappen says Red Bull must investigate the manner in which the suspension on his RB14 failed during qualifying for the United States Grand Prix.
Verstappen dipped his right-rear wheel over the orange kerb exiting Turn 15 in Q1 and the contact was sufficient for the suspension to fail and a driveshaft to break.
Verstappen was able to slowly recover to the pits but was unable to take any further part in qualifying at the Circuit of the Americas and will line up from 13th on the grid.
Verstappen has called on Red Bull to analyse why the component failed on that lap, having previously used the kerb without issue.
“I touched the outside kerb and it failed the suspension and took the driveshaft out,” Verstappen confirmed.
“Which is a bit weird because before we were always taking that kerb because it opens the corner a little bit more to make it faster.
“Those kerbs have been there for like two years now so it is a bit weird to understand.
“Also everybody else in qualifying took those orange kerbs and on our car it failed. We’ll have a look into it.”
Team-mate Daniel Ricciardo had a trouble-free session and qualified fifth, which will become fourth on the grid due to Sebastian Vettel’s penalty.
“It has been a while since our last second row start so I’ll thank Seb or the Stewards for that but we gained a position there,” he said.
“Second row puts me there at the start and in the mix with Turn 1 wide and there is going to be a bit going on I think.
“I am just happy to be there with my nose there and make it happen but with one lap we are in a league of our own and not up the front, in the middle bit, but it the race I think we will be closer.
“If I can get track position I can try to keep some of the cars behind so maybe we can disrupt their tempo a bit.
“We’ll try to send some missiles tomorrow and we’ll see how we go!”
