(Singapore) Quebec driver Lance Stroll was the victim of a violent exit from the track during the first qualifying session for the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix on Saturday.
While participating in his final fast lap to secure a place in the second of three qualifying sessions, the Aston Martin driver violently crashed into a barrier in the final corner before his car crashed. stopped in the middle of the track, the left front wing torn off.
Stroll was able to exit his vehicle and did not appear injured. He still had to go to the medical center to undergo the usual examinations.
The session was immediately suspended while the track was cleaned and the damaged barrier repaired.
Aston Martin officials have not yet released details on Stroll’s condition.
Earlier in the day, Stroll had achieved the 14e time of the third free practice session, finishing one place behind his teammate Fernando Alonso.
Carlos Sainz Jr., on Ferrari, dominated this session before earning the leading position for Sunday’s race at the end of the three qualifying sessions.
Sainz fils will occupy the first box on the starting grid in front of George Russell, on Mercedes. Charles Leclerc, in Ferrari, and Lando Norris, in McLaren, will start third and fourth, respectively.
Furthermore, in an unexpected outcome, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen was unable to participate in the third qualifying session and will start the 11e place after completing the second session by seven thousandths of a second from Liam Lawson, on AlphaTauri.
His teammate Sergio Perez will start two boxes behind the Dutchman.
Both Red Bull drivers have won every race since the start of the season and Verstappen came to Singapore hoping to score an 11e consecutive victory.
Speaking on team radio, Verstappen said it was an “absolutely shocking experience”.
Besides, worse news may be to come. Verstappen was under investigation for two incidents in which he appeared to interfere with other drivers.
Verstappen stopped at the exit of the pit lane during the first portion of qualifying and held off Yuki Tsunoda’s AlphaTauri, before driving slowly during the second incident.
So far this season, Verstappen has won races starting from sixth in Belgium and ninth in Miami. However, the Red Bull behaved much better on these two circuits than so far in Singapore.
During free practice sessions, Verstappen and Perez lamented that their cars felt unbalanced.