Hartley in ‘scary’ near-miss with team-mate

Kiwi F1 driver Brendon Hartley almost caused a terrifying 320kmh crash with his Toro Rosso team-mate.

Pierre Gasly described the near-miss in the first session of qualifying at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix yesterday as one of the most terrifying of his motorsport career.

Hartley was going slow after hitting a wall and picking up a front-left puncture in the first phase of the session when Gasly nearly hurtled into him.

The rookie, who made his F1 debut last year and is in his first full season, swerved instinctively and avoided contact.

Gasly had to go into a runoff area to avoid a collision, ruining his lap.

‘‘This is unacceptable,’’ Gasly shouted over team radio from inside his car.

‘‘It was really scary, the scariest moment of my career,’’ Gasly later told reporters.

‘‘I was at 320kph and he almost stopped. I tried to avoid him and I was sure I was going to crash. I could already see myself in the air, I don’t know how I avoided it.’’

Hartley apologised for getting in his teammate’s way, saying he felt ‘‘pretty stupid’’.

‘‘It was a disaster, pretty upset about that,’’ Hartley said.

‘‘Obviously, I was going half speed, trying to figure how bad the problem was and I completely messed it up.

‘‘I made a big mistake, I’m sorry for him.

‘‘I owe him a big apology for getting in the way and nearly causing a huge accident.

‘‘I’m disappointed how that went down. Not a good day.’’

The incident came two weeks after Gasly spun Hartley at the China GP.