Charles Leclerc crashes in FP1 and has a nightmare start to the Azerbaijan GP

Charles Leclerc's first laps behind the wheel since his victory in Monza got off to a bad start when he hit the wall in the middle of the first practice session.

The Monegasque caused major damage to the front of his SF-24 after losing control at Turn 15 and hitting the barrier.

Charles Leclerc gets off to a bad start with a crash in FP1

Leclerc lost control before telling his race engineer Bryan Bozzi that the dirt on the outside of the track was to blame.

The damage was mainly limited to the front of his Ferrari, with the right tyre pointing the wrong way, but the team should be able to get it whole again by the start of FP2 at 17:00 local time.

Leclerc was not the only driver to struggle in opening practice. Esteban Ocon was unable to complete a lap due to a PU problem in his Alpine.

A red flag had previously been raised when a marshal ran onto the track to remove a piece of debris before it became stuck under someone's car.

Shortly afterwards, another accident occurred when Franco Colapinto collided with the wall at the exit of Turn 4.

Charles Leclerc reacts to Adrian Newey's move to Aston Martin

Baku will mark the first time the drivers have faced the microphone since Adrian Newey's long-rumoured move to Aston Martin was confirmed. Given that Ferrari was once the team most heavily linked with the designer, Leclerc was asked if he was disappointed not to be working with the 65-year-old anymore.

“Let's put it this way: I'm not disappointed. I would be disappointed if we hadn't tried or spoken to Adrian,” he told Sky Sports.

“We spoke to Adrian as a team. In the end, he made his choice and I completely respect his decision to go elsewhere.

“At Ferrari, we have always valued the group more than the individual.

“Of course, Adrian Newey is Adrian Newey and he is incredible given all he has achieved.

“But we have incredible individual players at Ferrari. I believe in the group. I am sure we have the right group to get back to the top.”

“But I respect Adrian's decision. He will work with one of his favorite drivers, Fernando Alonso.”

“I wish him the best, but I hope Ferrari emerges victorious.”