Verstappen had been looking to continue his dominant start to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prixꦕ weekend by taking pole position but his hopes were dashed when he lost drive on his first flying lap of Q2. 

The double world c♏hampion reported over team radio that he ha🐼d an "engine problem" before being instructed to return to the pits in 'limp home mode'. 

"It's almost not accelerating," he added. 

VER : "I have a problem... engine, engine problem✤"

— Formula 1 (@F1)

Red Bull did not have time to fix the problem in the ൲garage with only five minutes left of the sec🗹ond session of qualifying, resulting in a shock elimination for Verstappen. 

The Dutchman had complained of s☂low shiftin🍃g in his RB19 in Friday practice, prompting Red Bull to change the gearbox on his car overnight. 

Verstappen is set to start Su📖nday's race from 15th on the grid and will have his work cut out if he is to make it back-to-back wins in 2023. 

The defending world champion said he had no warning 🅷about the "annoying" issue. 

"No, it is the first ꦗtime I have heard about it," Verstappen told Sky. 

"Coming out of Turn 10 it happened wh💖ich is very annoying.

"I think so far we had a🐻 really good weekend, every session was going well, the car was working really well.

"Now it will be a bit💧 more tricky to get to the front but it will be all about scoring points. 

"Of course, I would have liked to have stared further up the road but 🍸there is nothinꦍg I can do now.

"Let's stay realistic- it is going to be tough but we have good pace so let's ♉move forwಞard."