LEWIS HAMILTON is chasing a big win at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.
Charles Leclerc started front of the grid, with the Brit in the second slot and Max Verstappen starting third.
- AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX START TIME: 1pm UK
Get all the latest F1 updates from Baku here…
- Ben Hunt
RED FLAG – RACE STOPPED
Verstappen's car is recovered and the race is stopped.
- Ben Hunt
PIRELLI MUST FACE THE MUSIC
Verstappen was travelling at 200mph and there was no warning. That's a second failure.
He is inconsolable. Understandable.
- Ben Hunt
BIG SMASH FOR VERSTAPPEN – HE IS OUT OF THE RACE
He has a rear left tyre failure – the same tyre that exploded on Stroll's car.
That is a big one. Huge questions now for Pirelli. What a blow. He was in control of this race.
No warning whatsoever. What a dangerous incident.
- Ben Hunt
VERSTAPPEN REPONDS BY SETTING THE FASTEST LAP
He is 4.137secs ahead of his teammate, who is in second place.
- Ben Hunt
HAMILTON SETS THE FASTEST LAP
He is on for a bonus point here.
- Ben Hunt
10 LAPS TO GO
Vettel is running in 4th. He has gone up seven places in this race. Great drive from the four-time world champion, who is closing in on Hamilton.
- Ben Hunt
MAX IN CONTROL
- Ben Hunt
LAP 40
Verstappen, Perez (+4.105), Hamilton (+1.368).
- Ben Hunt
LAP 40
Bottas is passed by Giovinazzi and is dumped to 14th place.
- Ben Hunt
LAP 37
Vettel gets Gasly. The German has fresher tyres and has made up two places. He is running in fourth place.
- Ben Hunt
LAP 36 WE ARE RACING AGAIN
Verstappen gets away cleanly and Perez is under pressure from Hamilton but the Mexican stays in front.
Hamilton could have made a move there but was cautious. Meanwhile, Vettel gets past Sainz in to fifth.
- Ben Hunt
PIT LANE IS OPEN
Cars are pitting for tyres and there is a problem for Schumacher.
Safety Car coming in this lap.
- Ben Hunt
STROLL IS BACK IN THE GARAGE
He will be checked by medics as that was a high impact crash.
- Ben Hunt
SAFETY CAR PERIOD COULD BE A LONG ONE
Stroll's car has yet to be recovered but the pitlane is closed, so no driver can make a stop.
- Ben Hunt
BIG ACCIDENT FOR STROLL – SAFETY CAR IS OUT
The Aston Martin man was still to pit and running on old tyres and had a tyre blow out.
He was sent into the barriers at around 190mph. That's a big shunt. He is OK, but that was a big one.
- Ben Hunt
LAP 29
Verstappen told to hold his "maximum concentration". It is all under control for the Red Bull man who is comfortable out in front.
- Ben Hunt
MAZEPIN MISTAKE
No surprise to see the Russian go on at Turn 4. He reverses back out and rejoins the race. He was already last.
- Ben Hunt
HAMILTON UNHAPPY
He tells his team over the radio: "I am losing ground." It is evident as Perez and Verstappen are clearly pulling away.
Mercedes now have a gamble to make. Make another stop for fresh tyres or keep Hamilton out in third.
- Ben Hunt
A WORD ON BOTTAS
It would be crude to say he should have stayed in Finland – he was delayed on arriving in Baku due to a flight problem.
He desperately needed a win here. It is not going to come.
Mercedes will be thinking about their driver pairing for 2022, and I am not too sure he has done enough this season to warrant a place.
- Ben Hunt
LAP 21
Hamilton cannot find a way past Perez. This is exactly what Red Bull needed. A driver who can offer their race-leader protection.
As for Bottas, he is no help for Hamilton. He is down in 10th place.
- Ben Hunt
LAP 19
Vettel pits from the lead and it is as you were. Hamilton is hanging on the back of Perez's gearbox.
He is within DRS range and Perez will be under pressure on the straight.
- Ben Hunt
LAP 17
Vettel leads but has yet to pit. Verstappen, Perez, Hamilton, Stroll (who has also not pitted), Gasly, Leclerc, Tsunoda.
- Ben Hunt
LAP 14 PEREZ STOPS FOR TYRES
He has managed to get in front of Hamilton too. It is Verstappen, Perez and Hamilton.
- Ben Hunt
LAP 13 VERSTAPPEN STOPS FOR TYRES
His stop is just 1.9 seconds. Hamilton's slow stop has cost him position. Verstappen leads this race.
- Ben Hunt
LAP 12 HAMILTON STOPS FOR TYRES
It takes 4.6 seconds and that is slow comparatively. Bottas's stop takes 2.7 seconds.
That could be crucial in this race. Over to Red Bull.
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