Why FIA red-flagged Azerbaijan GP for Max Verstappen crash but not Lance Stroll

Max Verstappen's wrecked Red Bull is transported away in Azerbaijan — Photo: © LAT Images

Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Why FIA red-flagged Azerbaijan GP for Verstappen crash but not Stroll

Race director Michael Masi has explained his different calls

Ian Parkes

Monday 7 June 2021 09:28

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FIA race director Michael Masi has explained the reason why the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was red-flagged following Max Verstappen's crash but not for that involving Lance Stroll.

Both Stroll and Verstappen suffered high-speed tyre failures at different points on the long start-finish straight which resulted in them crashing into a concrete wall, leaving debris strewn across the track.

Masi, however, allowed the race to continue behind the safety car for a handful of laps after Stroll's lap-30 incident while his wrecked Aston Martin was recovered.

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But when championship leader Verstappen crashed in his Red Bull a few laps from the end, Masi opted to halt the race.

Explaining his different decision making, Masi said: "There was more than enough time, space on the right-hand side of the track when we were recovering it [Stroll's Aston Martin], and [I was] confident with the way that could be cleaned up in that fashion.

"When looking at everything, we weren't confident that the recovery on the pit straight and the amount of debris that was everywhere could be cleaned up in the appropriate time so it was in the best interests of the sport to suspend and restart."

Masi was further aided by the regulations that allowed him the option of a restart rather than stopping the race completely, as would have been the case in the past.

"Thankfully for a number of years now we've had the race suspension regulations," added Masi.

"Going back many, many years ago, when a race was red-flagged after a certain distance, it would go back two laps and so forth, but with the race suspension elements, yes, there is an option to not restart.

"But within the timeframe and the format of the regulations, we can restart and there was no reason not to."

Red Bull call was already on Masi's mind

Following Verstappen's failure and before a decision was taken to suspend the race, audio was played of Red Bull team manager Jonathan Wheatley asking Masi to red flag the event given the concerns over tyres.

Asked whether Wheatley's words triggered the stoppage, Masi said: "To be fair, it was already on my mind, but obviously from the perspective of what we communicate, we communicate to everyone equally.

"And looking at the number of laps we had to go, the recovery that was being undertaken and the fact there was so much debris on the pit straight, at that point, in my opinion, the best option was to suspend the race, clean everything up and then have a race finish."