Max Verstappen got dished an unwelcome helping of bad luck when his Red Bull coasted to a halt after 'switching off' mid-corner during the final free practice session of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, a few hours before qualifying.
Verstappen, fifth fastest at the time reported on the radio: "The engine just suddenly turned off, no power steering nothing."
The failure will come as a blow and force his crew to work against the clock to get his car ready ahead of qualifying, in which Renault powered teams will have access to a 'qualifying-mode' for the first time.
"Hopefully it's as simple as a box being changed," said Red Bull chief Christian Horner suggesting a gearbox failure, as the car was recovered and mechanics set to work on it.
Grandstands dotted around the Red Bull Ring are stained with orange as Verstappen's fans have descended on Spielberg in their droves to cheer on their driver.
Last year it was a similar scenario, but again it was a case of hard luck as Verstappen retired on the first lap of the race victim of a collision between Daniil Kvyat in the Toro Rosso and McLaren's Fernando Alonso.
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