Leclerc’s crash made it one other dire day for Ferrari after Hamilton did not make the top-10 shootout.
The session ran for 2 hours and the six red-flag stoppages broke a report that had beforehand been tied by the 2022 Emilia-Romagna and 2024 Sao Paulo Grands Prix.
The primary particular person to crash was Williams’ Alex Albon, who hit the within apex at Flip One, inflicting the primary of three red-flag stoppages within the first session.
Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg brought about the second, by crashing at Flip 4, and the session ended a couple of seconds early after each Alpine drivers made errors on the similar nook after the restart.
Pierre Gasly first sped up the escape street, earlier than his team-mate Franco Colapinto misjudged his entry into the identical nook, regardless of waved yellow flags, and crashed on the exit.
Haas driver Oliver Bearman then introduced out the following pink flag when he oversteered into the wall on the exit of Flip Two early within the second session. The session then ran to the top with out incident, though Piastri hit the wall on the exit of Flip 15 however was in a position to keep on together with his lap.
The joy was elevated through the stoppages within the closing session as a result of gentle rain was beginning to fall, which can have influenced the crashes of Leclerc and Piastri.
Leclerc, who had been on pole in Baku for the previous 4 years, went straight on into the tyre barrier at Flip 15, earlier than Piastri did the identical factor at Flip Three on the restart.
Hamilton mentioned he felt Ferrari had made a mistake on not placing him on medium tyres for the second session.
“We must always have used a medium in Q2,” he mentioned. “That is what everybody else did, we knew it was faster and I am unable to let you know why we did not find yourself utilizing it, however we are going to take it inside, however there was numerous progress.
“I am nonetheless optimistic for the race by way of attempting to maneuver forwards, however wow, I assumed I used to be combating for the highest three, so it is a huge shock.”
Haas driver Esteban Ocon, who certified 18th, was disqualified from qualifying after his rear wing failed a deflection check following the session.
He should begin the race from the pit lane.
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