Leclerc crashes during Verstappen’s best time in Baku

The first free practice session for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was marked by Max Verstappen's best time and a crash by Charles Leclerc. The Dutch world championship leader Verstappen achieved the fastest time of 1:45.546 minutes in the first test run on the street circuit in Baku on Thursday.

The Red Bull driver was 0.313 seconds faster than British Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez (MEX) finished third in the McLaren, ahead of the Dutchman's closest rival in the World Championship, Lando Norris (GBR).

Multiple interruptions

Monza winner Leclerc caused a moment of shock. The Monegasque driver braked too hard on a left-hand bend and crashed into the track barrier. While his car had to be written off as a total loss, Leclerc was uninjured.

Just a few minutes after the start of the practice laps, the race management had turned the lights red because car parts were lying on the track. Youngster Franco Colapinto also crashed his Williams, but the 21-year-old Argentinian also escaped with a fright.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix