Charles Leclerc and Franco Colapinto crash, Max Verstappen sets the mark in FP1 in Baku

Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Red Bull is off to a strong start at the F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

A year ago, Lando Norris walked SB Nation readers through the tough test that is the Baku City Circuit, the site of this weekend’s Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. From the twisty “castle corner” section through the tight and narrow run to the start/finish line, Azerbaijan offers up some of the season’s tightest corners and biggest challenges.

Both Charles Leclerc and Franco Colapinto found that out the hard way as the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix got underway Friday.

The two drivers each crashed during FP1, with both shunts bringing out the red flag.

Leclerc’s crash came first, bringing out the second red flag of the session (the first came due to some debris). While Leclerc was looking very fast on his lap, as well as the timing sheets overall, he locked up at Turn 15 and found the barrier midway through the session:

The session resumed, only to see Colapinto bring out another red flag later in FP1 when his FW46 found the wall at Turn 4:

When the checkered flag flew at the end of FP1, it was none other than Max Verstappen atop the timing sheets, with teammate Sergio Pérez — the “King of the Streets” as he is known — just two spots behind him in P3:

Might Red Bull have an answer for the rest of the field this week in Azerbaijan?