Martin Brundle would never keep his hands on the wheel like Max Verstappen in Australian GP crash

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Martin Brundle has questioned why Max Verstappen kept his hands on the wheel before hitting the barriers during Australian Grand Prix qualifying.

In the first big shock of the 2026 F1 season, four-time world champion Verstappen was eliminated in Q1 at Albert Park. He reported on the radio that the rear axle locked on braking, leading to a violent snap.

Verstappen could be seen nursing his hand after he climbed out of the car. He visited the medical centre to have it checked but has been passed fit for Sunday’s race.

Martin Brundle believes Max Verstappen should have braced for impact

Speaking on Sky Sports, Brundle said that Verstappen risked a broken wrist by making a split-second decision to keep hands on the wheel. Some racing drivers prefer to protect their hands when they know a crash is imminent.

Verstappen had to absorb the energy from the steering wheel at the point of impact. It’s not the first time he has taken this chance.

“Max still looking down and flicking his hands,” Brundle noticed. “I think he’s given himself a bit of a rattle. That can break your wrists sometimes.

• READ MORE: Anthony Davidson says Max Verstappen is still trying to drive like ‘the good old days’ in Australia

“I would always take my hands and put them on my chest if I can see that there’s a shunt coming my way. Some drivers believe in that, others don’t.

“I think I’ve asked Max about that before. He said, ‘No, no, I always hold onto it.’

“Some drivers believe you should, some drivers believe you absolutely shouldn’t, and I’m one of them, but then, I’ve seen drivers with broken thumbs from hanging onto the steering wheel.”

Verstappen faces a P20 start in Sunday’s race, though Isack Hadjar’s third-place result should give him confidence that he can fight through the field.

Did Red Bull energy harvesting lead to Max Verstappen crash?

Coming into the weekend, Carlos Sainz called Verstappen a title contender alongside George Russell. The Mercedes driver certainly justified that billing by taking a dominant pole position.

Indeed, Russell has indicated that he views Verstappen as one of his main opponents despite Red Bull’s inexperience as an engine manufacturer.

While there’s added potential for chaos on Sunday and a long season ahead, this result could be seen as a significant blow to any title ambitions for Verstappen.

Former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley says Verstappen was ‘caught out’ by the ‘massive energy harvesting’ that affects the car’s behaviour. Multiple drivers have experienced this problem in the early weeks of the new ruleset.