Stroll ‘frustrated’ by Q1 crash after unfortunate day for Aston Martin in Azerbaijan

Aston Martin suffered the worst possible start to qualifying in Azerbaijan as Lance Stroll fell victim to the Baku barriers in the opening minutes of Q1.

Eventual polesitter Charles Leclerc had been the only driver to have put a lap time on the board when the red flags called a halt to the session, after Stroll pushed a bit too hard rounding Turn 15 and tagged the wall.

READ MORE: Leclerc takes shock pole in dramatic Baku qualifying session as FIVE drivers crash out

The right-front wheel was ripped from the Canadian's car, forcing Stroll – who thumped his steering wheel in frustration – to park up at the exit of Turn 16.

“I went in too deep and locked up under braking,” explained Stroll afterwards. “I was kind of committed to the corner, and at that point, it just pushed me too deep and I hit the wall.

“It’s always been a tricky corner. There’s a tail wind there but it’s the same for everyone, and I think it was just a mistake. I’m a bit frustrated, but it was just a mistake.

“It is what it is, these things happen and we’ll have to bounce back tomorrow.”

It's the second time this year that Stroll has been eliminated in Q1, and the second time in a row in Baku, after he was knocked out in the opening segment in 2019.

READ MORE: Vettel and Ocon left ruing red flag that banished Q3 hopes

Adding to Aston Martin’s misfortunes, meanwhile, was Sebastian Vettel being eliminated in Q2, after a red flag brought out by another crash – this time for McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo – saw him fail to improve his lap time, as he missed the cut for a “quite easy” Q3 appearance by just 0.029s.