Ocon to start sprint race and Azerbaijan Grand Prix from pit lane

Esteban Ocon will have to start both the sprint race and the Baku Grand Prix from the pits. Alpine has removed the Frenchman's A523 from the parc fermé for reasons that are still unclear.

Ocon was due to start the Azerbaijan GP from 12th place, while he had secured himself a 13th starting spot for the sprint race. Now, however, the Alpine driver will have to start both races from the pit lane because his team violated the parc fermé rules, which came into force after qualifying.

It means another setback for Alpine, which already had a difficult weekend in Baku. Pierre Gasly was hit by issues in free practice on Friday and ended up in the wall in Q1 of qualifying. Gasly ran into trouble again during the sprint shootout, meaning Alpine will have to close behind with both cars.