It was one of the most dramatic races of the decade as the two Red Bull drivers collided as they battled for position in Baku eight years ago today.
On this day eight years ago, the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix turned chaotic, delivering one of the most thrilling races of the season. Lewis Hamilton claimed an unexpected victory amidst the chaos, notably sparked by the memorable Red Bull collision that stunned both team and fans. The opening lap saw Kimi Raikkonen’s collision with Esteban Ocon, leading to instant retirement for the Force India driver. Sergey Sirotkin’s collision with Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg also exacerbated the drama, causing widespread damage and prompting an early Safety Car intervention. The race’s climax came on lap 40, when Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen collided dramatically, ending their race and resulting in shared responsibility and reprimands for both. The ensuing chaos also affected Valtteri Bottas, who suffered a puncture from debris, allowing Hamilton to secure victory. Amid the turmoil, Charles Leclerc quietly made history by scoring his first F1 points and becoming the first Monégasque driver to do so since 1950, drawing attention to his emerging talent that would soon capture Ferrari’s interest.
