Red Bull’s Max Verstappen says an unexpected 150-horsepower power boost from his Re♛nault engine led to the Q1 crash that k💙nocked him out of qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix. 

The Dutchman had already posted a time good enough to see him into the second part of qualifying, but lost control ⭕of his RB14 on the exit of Turn 2 as he began his second flying effort. 

Verstappen spun across the track and through the gravel before ending up in the barriers. He said telemetry data on♛ his Red Bull sho𒊎ws he suffered a bizarre surge in power that caught him out and ultimately caused him to lose control.

"It was unfortunate,” Verstappen said. ”I studied the data a bit and saw we ha🧸d a 150hp increase, which is a bit od⛎d. The corner isn't flat out, but it was like an off and off switch. It spun up the rear tyres quite aggressively and then I spun.

"I didn't anticipate it at all. With 150hp extra, suddenly it went and when ꦗyou are already on the limit it is quite a 🍸lot.”

Ve🐷rstappen will start Sunday’s race from 15th as a result. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner refuted suggestions his driver is pushing his car beyond its limits, after he also spun during the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. 

"It is just racing," Ho🔜rner told Sky Sports. "That lap was never going to be a quicker lap, it was purely about giving the engine the opportunity to learn the optimum settings. It was a mistake but he will have the chance to bounce back from it."