2 Min Read
June 5 (Reuters) - AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly was surprisingly fastest in final practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday, as Red Bull’s Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen crashed into the barriers.
Frenchman Gasly, a winner for the Red Bull-owned team in Italy last season, lapped the Baku street circuit with a best time of one minute 42.251 seconds in an eventful session on a hot afternoon.
Verstappen’s team mate Sergio Perez was second quickest, 0.344 slower.
Mercedes’ seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton was third, after earlier complaining of a lack of grip, but his pace was increased significantly by running in the Mexican’s slipstream.
3 Min Read
June 5 (Reuters) - Mercedes Formula One team boss Toto Wolff branded Red Bull rival Christian Horner a “bit of a windbag” on Saturday as a war of words over “bendy wings” showed no sign of abating at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Red Bull are leading Mercedes by a point in the constructors’ standings after five races and this weekend’s event in Baku has been overshadowed by an argument over aerodynamics.
Mercedes and others have put the spotlight on Red Bull’s rear wing, with accusations that it bends the rules by flexing at speed to gain a performance advantage, while Horner has returned fire on the champions.