Qualifying for the GP2 Series at the Baku City Circuit has been postponed due to an issue with the curbs on the track.
Following the conclusion of the first Formula 1 practice session in Baku on Friday, the GP2 field was set to take to the track and qualify for Saturday’s feature race.
However, the running was red flagged after just over one minute so that an inspection of the track could be conducted, with loose screws appearing at corners.
FIA race director Charlie Whiting inspected the curb of every corner on the track before it was decided that the session would be postponed until after the second F1 practice later today. FP2 is expected to go ahead as planned.
GP2 qualifying postponed due to kerb issue in Baku. Many left rear tyres had damage in FP1, so Whiting wants work carried out #F1
— Chris Medland (@ChrisMedlandF1) June 17, 2016
Auto Motor und Sport‘s Tobias Gruener reported that a number of teams suffered damage to their tires during FP1, seemingly related to the curbs.
Got info that 90% of all rear tyres had been damaged in FP1. Mostly cuts in left rear. Many drivers had to stop session early. #AMuS #F1Baku
— Tobi Grüner 🏁 (@tgruener) June 17, 2016
NBCSN pit reporter Will Buxton took to Twitter to offer a run-down of the situation.
FP2 is due to start at 9am ET (5pm in Baku), with GP2 qualifying now scheduled to start at 7pm local time.