WATCH: Charles Leclerc's high speed crash pulls out red flag in FP1 at Baku

Star Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend got off to a rough start as he crashed out of the first practice session (FP1) at the tricky Turn 15. While leading the timesheets, the Ferrari driver’s session came to an abrupt halt when he misjudged the apex, locking up and slamming into the barrier.

The incident took place at the fast downhill left-hand corner, the same spot where Sebastian Vettel had a memorable crash with Lewis Hamilton in 2017. Leclerc, carrying too much speed into the corner, was unable to control the car, resulting in a heavy impact on the wall. "I took the dirt on the outside," Leclerc explained over the team radio after the crash.

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Despite the violent impact, Charles Leclerc emerged from the wreck unscathed, walking away from his car unharmed. The accident brought out the red flag, marking an early end to the session for the Monegasque driver. Although frustrating, he remains far from the only driver to have fallen victim to the challenges of Turn 15.

A mysterious red flag had halted FP1 earlier

Earlier in the session, the red flag had already been waved, causing confusion among the teams and fans. Initially, there was no clear reason for the stoppage as there were no visible accidents on the track. It was later revealed that a piece of metal debris had been spotted near the high-speed Turns 13 and 14, raising concerns about potential tyre damage.

For Leclerc, crashing out at FP1 was a bitter blow, especially after showing promising pace in the session. As the team scrambled to repair the damage, Ferrari fans could only hope for a smoother run through the remainder of the weekend. Notably, Leclerc is coming here after winning the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.