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F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Esteban Ocon’s car almost hits crowd in pitlane as Sergio Perez wins

When Alpine driver Esteban Ocon entered pitlane at 300 km/h the last thing he expected to see was photographers on the track. See how close he came to a ‘big disaster’.

Emily Benammar and the Sun
16 min read
May 2, 2023 - 11:50AM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
car almost hits crowd at F1 race
car almost hits crowd at F1 race

Chaotic scenes took place at the end of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday when Esteban Ocon almost ran over photographers as he made his way into the pitlane.

The Alpine driver, 26, was forced into stopping on the last lap of the race as he dropped out of the points.

But things could have ended a whole lot worse for the Frenchman through no fault of his own.

As he dived into the pitlane, F1 photographers were blocking the entrance by covering the track.

And Ocon’s on-board camera showed he was desperately close to hitting those that reacted at the last possible moment.

The Frenchman’s skill to slam on his brakes saved lives as the FIA stewards launched an investigation into why people were allowed into the pit lane, despite Ocon being yet to pit for fresh tyres.

Ocon said: “I’m arriving at 300km/h (186 m/ph), breaking very late, and I see the barriers, I see the people around. This is crazy.

“It could have been a big, big one today. This is definitely something that needs to be discussed. It’s something we don’t want to see.

“I had to lift off. I had to back off. I would not have liked to be the one in the middle there, I have to say, at the speed that we are arriving there, especially so close to the line.

“If I missed the braking point, it’s a big disaster.”

The shambolic scenes mean that the FIA are again thrust into the spotlight.

In the Saudi Arabian GP it took them four hours to confirm Fernando Alonso’s third place.

And at the Australian Grand Prix they bungled the end to the GP as they tried to figure out their own rulebook.

Under normal circumstances, barriers are erected in the parc ferme area in the pit lane in the final stages of the race, with photographers and TV crews allowed early access so they can set up for their shots.

While it is rare that a driver would make a pitstop on the final lap, it was obvious that Ocon would have to pit for his mandatory stop of the race.

The FIA stewards summoned their own employees to the post-race investigation and it was unsurprising that after effectively marking their own homework, they came to a weak conclusion that they would try better next time.

Their statement said: “We noted that it was not unusual for the representatives to allow such persons into the pit lane just before the end of the race, in the usual course of preparation for parc ferme and the Podium ceremony.

“However, in this case, there was one driver that had to pit in the last lap and this created a very dangerous situation for those that were in the pit lane at the time.

“We considered that it was fortunate that there were no serious consequences on account of what happened.”

EVERYONE BUT F1 COULD SEE IT HAPPENING

Ocon had not made his mandatory pit stop and as his Alpine team emerged to prepare, there were at least 25 photographers and spectators gathering at the entrance of the pitlane.

Ocon entered to pit and came dangerously close to driving into the crowd.

“That is a total and utter shambles,” Ted Kravitz said on Sky F1.

“Oh what is this about. We could see it coming, Alpine could see it coming. What is going on down there?”

Kravitz and David Croft had spotted the crowd gathering and were speechless that organisers had allowed anyone to be in that area given the rule changes brought in before the Australian race a month ago.

“That is a total and utter shambles of organisation,” Croft said. “Someone should have known.

“There will be a lot of questions asked about what happened right at the end. People coming out to celebrate on the pit wall, which is not allowed now in the regulations, and photographers waiting for the podium celebrations while Esteban Ocon still had to make his pit stop in this race.”

Karun Chandhok added: “A lucky escape. That was absolutely madness, to allow all those people into the pit lane when there was live racing going along. Absolute madness.”

Vision showed organisers putting the barriers across pitlane as Ocon was entering. Questions will be asked about the safety procedures at the track.

The speed limit in pit lane is 60km/h.

“That needs a review,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said of the incident.

“Esteban is within his rights to come in on the final lap and the FIA need to police this better.”

The FIA confirmed they were “investigating an incident in the pitlane on the final lap”.

WHO WAS ON THE PODIUM?

Behind Perez was teammate Max Verstappen with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completing the podium.

Perez, winner of Saturday’s sprint in Baku, cut Verstappen’s lead in the drivers’ championship to six points after this fourth round of the record 23-race season.

Pleased with both his drivers, Horner was optimistic about what comes next in Miami.

“Sergio had a sensational weekend,” he said. “I don’t know what it is about this track but he excels here. He got lucky with the safety car but then he converted that. Phenomenal from him all weekend.”

When asked about Verstappen’s race, Horner added: “We had already committed to Max’s stop so we can say woulda, shoulda, coulda but sometimes things don’t go your way. Max’s misfortune vs Checo’s good fortune.”

Race winner Sergio Perez of Mexico Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium
Race winner Sergio Perez of Mexico Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium

KING OF THE STREETS

Perez’ engineer told him on the team radio he was the “king of the streets” and with justification as five of his six F1 wins - not counting Saturday’s sprint - have come on street circuits, twice in Baku alongside victories in Saudi Arabia, Monaco and Singapore.

The popular Perez, who believes he can really challenge Verstappen for the title, said: “It really worked out today for us (me), we managed to keep the pressure on Max. I think it was very close between us, we pushed to the maximum, we both hit the wall a few times but we (I) managed to keep him under control.” Leclerc conceded that for the time being at any rate Red Bull were in “another league once it comes to the race”.

“Over 51 laps it was not possible, they have so much more pace than we do. Everyone is working flat out to understand what we can do in the races to close the gap.”

In what was a relatively tame race, Perez took the lead thanks to an early safety car playing into his pit stop strategy after de Vries retired.

WHAT ABOUT PIASTRI?

Australia’s Oscar Piastri finished an impressive 11th considering the illness he had endured all weekend.

Piastri’s manager Mark Webber revealed the 21-year-old had lost 3 kgs since arriving in Baku because of food poisoning, so the fact he managed to drive and finish the race was somewhat impressive.

Piastri had been in contention for points but saw his race ruined by a poor pit stop form the McLaren team.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said: “It’s been a little bit of a struggle, so he’s actually doing very well, I would say, in terms of driving.

“You wouldn’t be able to say from the outside that the driver is actually not feeling very well.

“Oscar is also impressive in the way he deals with that because he doesn’t really want to show it, even to us.

“He keeps calm, he keeps his bearing, but we know that he’s struggling, so he’s doing well.”

HOW THEY FINISHED

1. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

4. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

5. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

6. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

7. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

8. George Russell (Mercedes) - *fastest lap

9. Lando Norris (McLaren)

10. Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri)

11. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

12. Alex Albon (Williams)

13. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)

14. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

15. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

16. Logan Sargeant (Williams)

17. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)

18. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)

Retired

Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo)

Nyck de Vries (Alpha Romeo)

FINAL LAP PEREZ WINS

You have missed very little. Russell, as expected, is on the sorts in a bid to get fastest lap, Piastri is up to 12th but might not make it to the points.

Questions now being asked about Ocon, he needs to make a pit stop and hasn’t. Alpine are in pitlane but it’s closed and there's’s people everywhere.

Chaos in the pitlane, “a total and utter shambles in organisation”.

Someone could have been killed.

As an aside, Perez has won the race.

LAP 46/51 PEREZ LEADS

Ignore what I said about Norris, Hulkenberg lost the slip stream of Ocon and his tyres are cooked, Norris got the overtake and is into 10th.

Mercedes prepping for a pit stop.

LAP 45/51 PEREZ LEADS

Norris remains out of the points and man he must be so frustrated, stuck behind that Haas all afternoon pretty much and he’s preparing to kiss goodbye to his 100% points record at this track.

Further ahead Leclerc has suddenly found some pace which is odd but it could well save him from losing the third podium spot to Alonso.

Strategically now a few drivers need to consider if they have a late pit and make a play for fastest lap. I’m looking at you George Russell.

LAP 42/51 PEREZ LEADS

And there is little else to report besides the fact a number of teams are out and ready for pit stops - they just need a safety car.

This race having any significant change or action is entirely dependent on a safety car.

Sainz is defending incredibly well in 5th, he’s had Hamilton right up his backside for the last 24 odd laps, but particularly the last 8 have been incredibly trying for the Spaniard. Can only imagine the language coming from the Brit.

LAP 37/51 RETIREMENT

Unreal update on Piastri, According to Mark Webber his manager, Oscar has lost more than 3 kgs since he arrived in Azerbaijan with some kind of stomach upset or food poisoning - sounds nasty.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said: “It’s been a little bit of a struggle, so he’s actually doing very well, I would say, in terms of driving.

“You wouldn’t be able to say from the outside that the driver is actually not feeling very well.

“Oscar is also impressive in the way he deals with that because he doesn’t really want to show it, even to us.

“He keeps calm, he keeps his bearing, but we know that he’s struggling, so he’s doing well.”

Meanwhile, another retirement and Alpha Tauri’s weekend goes from awful to disastrous with Zhou told to box, his race is over. He’s the second car out of the race after Nyck De Vries.


LAP 33/51 PEREZ LEADS

For a track that promises so much action and normally delivers, Baku is incredibly tame this year.

Best of the action right now is Gasly overtaking Bottas for 18th place. Yep that’s about as exciting as it’s getting for now folks. Turn 15 getting all the action, two more drivers kissing that wall and their races survive.

Keep your eye on Alonso, he’s definitely cooking something up.

LAP 30/51 PEREZ LEADS

Now this is something, remember a few laps back the Red Bulls were nine seconds clear of their rivals? Well now it’s just Perez. Verstappen is losing time at a worrying rate, he’s more than two seconds behind his teammate.

Sure there’s a buffer of 10 between him and Leclerc but that’s not the point.

According to the world champ’s radio, he may have some engine braking issues.

HALFWAY PEREZ LEADS

Alonso is now lapping 3 tenths faster than Leclerc ahead of him and Sainz in 5th is struggling with Hamilton’s pressure from behind. The Ferrari’s are looking wobbly.

Back in 10th Hulkenberg has hit the wall, he’s the third driver this race to kiss the side railings and somehow survive. Lucky.

Just look at this track

LAP 23/51 PEREZ LEADS

The Red Bull duo are now nine seconds ahead of the rest of the pack - that is absurd.

Lecler has a decent couple of second gap on alonso but just behind the Spaniard the Ferrari of Sainz has just been told to “go hunting”.

Which could also mean please watch out for Lewis in your rearview because he’s not that far away.

1-10

PER

VER

LEC

ALO

SAI

HAM

STR

RUS

OCO

HUL

(Piastri 13th)

LAP 20/51 PEREZ LEADS

Such a costly error from lance Stroll in 6th, he totally ballsed up turn 16 and gifted his position to Hamilton.

That’s total lack of experience on show right there, you cannot get that turn wrong. No margin for error.

The Canadian is now stuck in a Mercedes sandwich.

PIASTRI PITSTOP DISASTER

A pit stop disaster for Mclaren together with a rival team’s reaction time wreaked havoc on Oscar Piastri’s Baku race aspirations.

He was called d***head by Max Verstappen after the sprint race but Mercedes star George Russell is not bothered by the Dutchman’s reaction to their collision.

The Aussie was riding 11th and chasing Yuki Tsunoda down for the points when he opted to go into the garage…problem was Alpha Tauri reacted and called their man in too.

Things got worst and Mclaren took 50% longer than they should have.

“They needed two seconds for Piastri and they took three because of the left rear,” David Croft said from pitlane.

Piastri emerged 16th right behind Tsunoda and just to pour salt in the wounds, a safety car was called a lap after.

LAP 14/51 PEREZ LEADS

Well Leclerc forgot to hit the accelerator it seems because blink and you miss it and Verstappen is into P2.

That Ferrari straight line speed is OK but there’s no contest when Max has a sniff of space.

Another terrific move a little further back was Alonso on Sainz and the Ferrari is fuming, he was straight on the radio asking how long it was until DRS was enabled. This could be quite the tasty battle.

Russell unimpressed with his restart also. “Total sh*t” he says….and he’s not wrong.

If I’m honest I thought we’d have fewer cars still in this by this point.

LAP 10/51 SAFETY CAR

And the timing is fantastic for Perez and he has Nick De Vryes to thank for that, the Williams retiring from the race. Verstappen will be a happy man too after complaining about the grip on his rears.

It’s a disastrous sC for Hamilton and it’s awesome for Ferrari’s race hopes.

Basically all the cars that went into th epits in the build up to NDV retirement are screwed.

Likely order will be Perez as race leader. Leclerc P2 and Verstappen in P3.

LAP 8/51 VERSTAPPEN LEADS

Lovely team work sentiment from Lance Stroll who is on the radio assuring Alonso he will not make any attempt to attack his team mate despite the lack of pace (caused by Hamilton).

“Lance won’t attack you, Lance won’t attack.” Alonso is told on the radio.

Sweet right?

Alonso replies: “I mean he can have a go if he wants but with time we will get them”

This is classic Alonso, let Lewis destroy his own tyres, play it patient and go in for the kill.

For the Aussies following along, Piastri is back in 11th for now and chasing Tsunoda to get into the points.

LAP 6/51 VERSTAPPEN LEADS

Strategy already being called into question by Alonso who is frustrated by the Ferrari and Mercedes in front of him (Sainz and Hamilton). The Spanish legend concerned their lack of pace will impede the quality of their tyres in the long run.

Further ahead, Perez has taken second from Leclerc and that was crucial for the Red Bull so as not to lose too much time from his teammate.

We all remember 2018 but Christian Horner insists the air is free to race - so long as they're sensible.

Let’s see....

LAP 4/51 VERSTAPPEN LEADS

How glorious is the wing camera angle on this track, one of the best circuits on the calendar, thank goodness it’s been renewed through to 2026.

Also of note is the start from Lance Stroll - up from 10th to 7th and the debris at the start of the race looks to have come from some small contact between Albon and Piastri.

OVERTAKE as easy an overtake as you will ever see. DRS open and Verstappen wasted no time in taking the lead of this race and the pressure is not off leclerc who has Perez right behind him.

9:02PM LIGHTS OUT IN BAKU

We are racing in Baku! And a clean enough start from all cars and there’s some argy bargy towards the back but no early damage. Leclerc nails the perfect start and holds on to his advantage over Verstappen but it’s more a question of how long he has can do that and hold off the threat. Russell is up top 9th from 11th, Tsunoda has lost one spot.

Bottas has lost five positions on the opening lap. Magnussen up three! Damage to Magnussen’s front wing.

All drivers have started on the medium compound except De Vries, Ocon and Hulkenberg - they started on the hard compound.

8:45PM MERCEDES HAVE WORK TO DO

Short and sweet from Toto Wolff pre-race with Russell back in 11th.

“We have a difficult car,” he said. “We had good moments yesterday but we are lacking some things.

“He (Russell) needs to make up place quickly and then play patient.”

When asked about Verstappen’s beef, he added: “It’s just banter, it’s good entertainment.”

8:25PM ALL CHANGE TO THE GRID

Nico Hulkenberg joins Alpine’s Esteban Ocon in a pit-lane start in Azerbaijan after Haas changed his suspension settings.

The revised grid for the race has the Alpine and Haas picking up penalties for car set-up changes and demoted to start from the pitlane:

Front row Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)

2nd row Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari)

3rd row Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin)

4th row Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren) Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri)

5th row Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin) Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren)

6th row George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) Alexander Albon (THA/Williams)

7th row Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo) Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams)

8th row Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo) Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas)

9th row Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine) Nyck de Vries (NED/AlphaTauri)

Pitlane start Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine) Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Haas)

8:10PM EXPECT CHAOS

We see it year in year out, day in day out on race weekend in Azerbaijan. The chances of 20 cars finishing this race is almost certainly zero. There will be chaos, there will carnage no doubt and there WILL be over taking aplenty.

Strategy wise you’d think we’d be looking at most teams going with one-stop. Start on the mediums and change to the hards after 25 or so but while the mathematicians and experts say a two-stop is slower, that’s widely expected to be how the majority go today.

Let’s not forget one of the greatest moments we have seen on this track and it’s one Mr Daniel Ricciardo and THAT triple overtake

THE STORY SO FAR

Sergio Perez won Saturday’s sprint race at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to maintain Red Bull’s perfect start to the season, but teammate Max Verstappen was in no mood to celebrate.

Red Bull’s double world champion was seething over a first lap incident when he was muscled out of third place by the Mercedes of George Russell.

Perez won from pole-sitter Charles Leclerc of Ferrari with Verstappen, whose car picked up some damage, eventually getting his third place back off Russell.

The British driver apologised to Verstappen, saying his car had no grip but the Dutch driver snapped back: “Mate, we all have no grip, we all need to leave space!”

Verstappen added later: “I just don’t understand why you need to take so much risk in lap 1, understeer in my side pod and create a hole, we all have cold tyres, it’s always easy to lock up.

“But in this beautiful way of explaining mate, locked up, or look at the on-board, it doesn’t make sense. We still got into P3, got some good points, but it is what it is.”

Russell stood his corner, remarking: “I was surprised why he was so angry to be honest, he still finished the race in P3.

“I was still quite surprised he was trying to hold it round the outside, you know we’re on a street circuit, he’s got a lot more to lose than I have. None of the contact was intentional.”

That mini storm on the banks of the Caspian Sea took some of the gloss off Perez’s win.

The Mexican was adding this first of six sprint races in 2023 to his win in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with Verstappen taking the season-opener in Bahrain and last time out in Melbourne.

Leclerc is on pole again on Sunday for the fourth round of the season but judged on this display he will have his work cut out again to clip the Red Bulls’ wings.

In the drivers’ championship Verstappen leads on 75 points from Perez on 62 with Leclerc picking up seven points – more than he’s earned in the three races run so far.

Leclerc fended off Perez in the short run to the first corner as Russell overtook Verstappen at turns two and three.

Sprint winner Sergio Perez will start at the front of the grid. Picture: Getty
Sprint winner Sergio Perez will start at the front of the grid. Picture: Getty

Yuki Tsunoda’s AlphaTauri then lost a rear tyre which nonchalantly rolled its way down the straight, coming to a stop eventually at turn 16 as the safety car came out.

The safety car came in on lap six of 17, Leclerc keeping his lead on the restart, with Verstappen taking back third from Russell.

With 10 laps to go Perez picked off Leclerc, Red Bull’s straight line speed helping the Mexican sweep past the Ferrari.

– ‘Step forward’ –

Perez picked his way safely around the tricky circuit over the closing laps for a comfortable win.

“It was good, with these tricky sessions it’s been a lot of pressure on us, our team, our engineers, mechanics and drivers, so to get away with maximum points today was the main objective but obviously we know that tomorrow is the main race,” said the sprint winner.

Mercedes' British driver George Russell and Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen were involved in a spicy clash. Picture: AFP
Mercedes' British driver George Russell and Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen were involved in a spicy clash. Picture: AFP

Leclerc was encouraged Ferrari had taken “a step forward”.

“We are still not where we want to be but as I said, if winning is not possible then we just need to take the maximum points,” he said.

“And today there wasn’t anything more. Happy with the second place and we will try and go for the win tomorrow.” His teammate Carlos Sainz came in fifth ahead of Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Lance Stroll picking up one point in eighth.

“I like that we’re trying something new with this format. The extra qualifying session was fun,” said Hamilton who was second last time out in Australia.

“The sprint race was less exciting but that’s probably because I was struggling.”

More Coverage

‘Not arrogant’: Ricciardo lists criteria for F1 future
Whinging F1 star told to ‘pack up and leave’ in brutal takedown
The Sun

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/motorsport/formula-one/f1-azerbaijan-grand-prix-2023-live-stream-race-time-australia-grid-qualifying-results/news-story/8cc8a121fad211515606ca216b0b2d2d