Formula 1’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix has been red-flagged following a high-speed tyre failure for long-time race leader Max Verstappen.
Verstappen passed polesitter Charles Leclerc for second spot and then overhauled Lewis Hamilton through the pit stop phase at the Baku City Circuit, as both switched to Hard tyres.
Verstappen held a comfortable advantage over Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez but suffered a left-rear tyre failure along the main straight on lap 46.
The failure pitched Verstappen into the wall at high speed and Race Control immediately deployed the Safety Car before throwing the red flag.
Verstappen was able to walk away from the wreckage while Red Bull confirmed that there was zero warning prior to the failure.
Verstappen’s accident came after Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll suffered a left-rear tyre failure on lap 30, slightly further up the pit straight.
Stroll was pitched heavily into the wall, having run a long first stint on Hard tyres, and was not injured in the impact.
The race will be restarted, with 49 of 51 laps completed, at 18:10 local time.
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