MELBOURNE – Red Bull’s remarkable two-year run of reliability ended at the Australian Grand Prix on March 24, with Formula One world champion Max Verstappen rolling back to the pits as flames leapt from the rear of his car.

The Dutchman’s run of nine successive wins was also snapped as he broke down on Lap 4 with a brake problem, two years after his and Red Bull’s last retirement due to a mechanical issue at the 2022 Albert Park race.