New gearbox demotes Verstappen further

Max Verstappen is set to start the US Grand Prix from P18 after Red Bull fitted his car with a new gearbox for the race. Verstappen exited qualifying prematurely after hitting the kerbs on the outside of Turn 15, which broke his rear suspension and driveshaft.

The Dutchman limped back into the pits but the fix couldn't be completed in time for Q2. Verstappen failed to make it out of the garage and ended his day early, along with the two Toro Rossos of Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley, who take fresh power unit elements.

Gasly and Hartley will start the race from the back row, behind Verstappen as their penalties account for more positions. Verstappen's official punishment for the new gearbox is five places - but Toro Rosso exceeds the 15 place penalty that means it has to start from the back.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner says that the team was disappointed to lose Verstappen so early on in the session, but hopes that he takes inspiration from his resurging drive twelve months ago at the Circuit of the Americas.

"We are obviously incredibly disappointed not to have Max up at the sharp end with him, but those kerbs are pretty brutal out there and it looks like they took their toll on his rear suspension in Q1. As we saw here last year, Max enjoys coming through the field and giving the fans something to shout about so let's hope for more of the same come the race."