Are Red Bull and Aston Martin responsible for the big crashes in Baku?
The accident involving Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll in Baku could be explained by low pressure in their tires. Their teams may have taken advantage of the lack of FIA control to underinflate their sets of tires.

This Saturday, numerous rumors were pointing at Red Bull. The Austrian team would be under criticism after Max Verstappen’s accident a few laps before the end of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The rumors claim that the Dutchman’s team would have lowered the tire pressure below the minimum level imposed by Pirelli (20 psi for the rear tires).
Since the British Grand Prix 2013 (where 5 drivers had punctures), Pirelli has been imposing a minimum pressure on the tires. This is checked at the start of the races, and officials have the right to enter the garages to perform the same operation on the other sets of tires. However, the checks are rarely carried out in the stands, to the point that some teams even claim they have never experienced this situation.
This lack of control could then encourage all teams to reduce the pressure in the tires, which would provide better grip. However, with less air in the tires, wear is accelerated, increasing the risk of punctures.
The culprits of Lance Stroll and Max Verstappen’s accidents could then be Aston Martin and Red Bull themselves. The response to these rumors should be revealed this Tuesday, after the publication of the report from the investigation conducted by Pirelli and the FIA.