Lando Norris and McLaren were both at a loss to explain exactly what had caused the sudden collapse of the Brit's right rear suspension and his subsequent early retirement from Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix.
Norris was holding his own just inside the top ten in the opening laps of the race when a problem occurred on the exit of the final chicane on lap 9.
A lopsided right rear wheel and ignited elements at the rear of the car forced the McLaren driver to immediately park his MCL34 near the pitlane exit.
Sky F1's Martin Brundle suggested the drama had perhaps been caused by the McLaren's brakes catching fire and melting suspension element, but Norris had no insight to offer on the incident.
"We don't know yet until they get the car back, I can't say too much," he said.
"There was a problem with the brakes, which led to something else happening. But I have no idea.
"It's annoying because up to then I had quite a fun battle with Max [Verstappen]. I would've liked to complete the race, but just not our day."
©McLaren
Initial speculation on the problem suggested that the 19-year-old had perhaps made contact with one of the walls, a hypothesis Norris denied.
"I didn't hit any walls, I did everything normal. It looked like something to do with the suspension breaking or giving way. I can't confirm, I don't know what it is - neither do the guys.
"We need to get the car back and then we can investigate."
Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Carlos Sainz insists Pirelli still has considerable work to do on its intermediate tyre which…
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur admits to feeling relieved after his sit-down in Brazil with…
On this day in 1994, Michael Schumacher clinched at the season finale Australian Grand Prix…
Red Bull's Isack Hadjar is not quite ready to call time on his 2026 campaign.…
Aston Martin F1 team owner Lawrence Stroll is reportedly “at wit’s end”, according to Sky…
Toto Wolff has no intention of rewriting Mercedes’ recent history now that the team is…