08 July 2023 , 14:33
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Max Verstappen suffered an embarrassing moment in British Grand Prix qualifying as he crashed in the pit lane while exiting his garage.
It happened during the first part of the session at the end of a red flag period. The Dutchman was at the top of the timesheets at the time, but felt the need to head back out on track to make sure of his place in Q2.
However, it didn't quite go to plan. As he exited his garage, the Red Bull racer understeered and crashed into the wall at the side of the pit lane, damaging his front wing.
Verstappen was wheeled back to the garage and a replacement was quickly sourced and fitted to his car. Fortunately, the quick fix was all he needed and he was soon back out on the Silverstone track with the rest of them.
That was only a minor hiccup for Red Bull. The major problem came when Sergio Perez suffered yet another early exit, only going 16th fastest.
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It continues the Mexican's wretched run of form in qualifying. He has not reached Q3 since the Miami Grand Prix in early May – clearly struggling under the weight of the ever-building pressure.
That first part of qualifying was filled with incidents. Lewis Hamilton was involved in one of the first as he span on the slippery track and careered into the gravel, though was able to keep his Mercedes moving to get back out again.
Lewis Hamilton had a trip through the gravel in British GP qualifying (Sky Sports)Later in that first part of the session, the seven-time world champion was impeded heavily by an Alpine on track – and it was far from the only such incident. Even the two Ferrari drivers started sniping at each other over the radio, Charles Leclerc accusing Carlos Sainz of ruining his preparations for a flying lap.
"Nice, Carlos, nice," snapped the Monegasque racer sarcastically. "Good overtake in the last corner." However, perhaps sensing his team-mate's frustration, Sainz took to the radio himself to explain why he had moved past the other Ferrari.
"It's a bit unfair what you were asking me to do there, sacrifice my tyre temperature for someone," the Spaniard told his team. "Also, I am P4 and he is P3, I am more at risk." Fortunately for them, both Ferrari racers made it through safely to Q2.