The training had to be interrupted for ten minutes
World Championship leader Max Verstappen suffered a setback in the last training session before the Formula 1 race in Azerbaijan. The Dutchman slipped his Red Bull on Saturday at turn 15 of the Baku street circuit and had to give up the practice session early. After the accident, Verstappen climbed out of the wrecked car in frustration, sat down briefly on a concrete block and then returned to the garage.
Given the tough times in the first practice sessions, the 23-year-old is one of the favorites to win the sixth Grand Prix of the season. For qualification in the afternoon, his Red Bull should probably be operational again. Verstappen had recently taken the lead in the World Cup with his victory in Monaco. Before the race on the Caspian Sea on Sunday (2 p.m. / ORF 1, Sky) he is four points ahead of defending champion Lewis Hamilton.
Because of the Verstappen crash, the training, which was characterized by many slips, had to be interrupted for ten minutes so that his car could be safely removed from the track. The Frenchman Pierre Gasly drove the fastest time in the Alpha Tauri, somewhat surprisingly. The Mexican Sergio Perez finished second in the Red Bull ahead of Mercedes star Hamilton.
