LANCE STROLL and Nicholas Latifi crashed out of qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix after an almighty mix-up.

Williams' Latifi, 26, went to overtake his Canadian compatriot seconds after letting Stroll pass during Q1.

But the Aston Martin star, 23, unexpectedly manoeuvred across to the right-hand side of the track as Latifi was moving up the inside, causing the pair to collide.

Stroll's front wing crashed into Latifi's back wheel, leading the latter to spiral out of control with his tyre running down the track ahead of him.

The red flag had to be introduced and neither driver was able to deliver a qualifying time.

Latifi was fuming after the incident, telling Sky Sports: "For me it's quite clear.

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"I've just seen a video before coming here – I just went to go back wide to prepare my out lap, and he just turned into me once I was alongside him.

"I let him through because he was pushing to open a lap, or so I was told.

"Then I saw he aborted the lap, so I wanted to start my own preparation lap so I went back by him. Obviously there was a big gap and once I got past him, for whatever reason he decided to turn."

Stroll's take on the incident was a complete contrast immediately after the fact as he questioned Latifi's decision-making.

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He said to his team via car radio: "F*** Latifi man what on earth is he doing?! He just hit me man."

The misunderstanding came as Latifi initially allowed Stroll to pass, believing he was beginning to start his qualifying lap.

But after seeing the Aston Martin car slow Latifi decided he would go back in front and did so until Stroll caught his left wheel.

The delay to the race did at least allow Stroll's team-mate Sebastien Vettel to get out of the pits and record a time but he could only manage 18th place for Sunday's grand prix.

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