After setting the fastest time in final practice and feeling good about the upgrades, Verstappen hoped to pull off a surprise in Baku, but an engine problem threw a spanner in the works. Initially, it appeared to be related to deployment issues and therefore problems on the electrical side of the power unit, but speaking to the Dutch media in the Baku paddock, Verstappen clarified what was actually going on.

"Throughout qualifying, already from Q1, I had a problem with the engine, which meant I was losing at least half a second compared to my team-mate. And it only got worse. In Q2 and Q3 it was a complete disaster, so I think we clearly have a problem with the engine."

Verstappen clarified that the problem was initially not about deployment but rather the internal combustion engine. "No, not on the electrical side. In Q1, we immediately saw a problem. But later it became clear that we really did have a problem with the ICE. It only got worse and in Q3 that engine was no longer working properly at all."

The problem with the combustion engine subsequently caused numerous other issues. "The top speed just became less and less. On that second lap in Q3, my battery wasn’t charging either, but that was obviously because the combustion engine had a problem. That causes a lot of misfires and a lot of other problems, and it confuses the system completely." Between Turns 15 and 16, Verstappen’s head suddenly jolted forward because the battery switched off. "You go into super clipping in some places, and that clip is quite aggressive. The whole system was just confused."