2022 Australian Grand Prix

The Formula 1 family got back in Melbourne after two years, and racing after three!

Friday started with all drivers trying out the new revised Albert Park track in Australia, with the usual issues affecting everyone, until Sebastian Vettel brought out the red flag with about 13 minutes remaining as his Aston Martin started smoking heavily. He went straight into fireman mode and emptied an extinguisher into the back of his AMR22. 

Free Practice 2 started just as FP1 finished, with both Ferrari on top. Nevertheless, just 12 minutes before the end, a red flag came out so Marshalls could pick up some debris left from Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin when running over a curb. In the end, it was Charles Leclerc who finished the fastest, ahead of Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz.

Saturday’s Practice started with all drivers preparing for qualifying later, until the first red flag came out as Sebastian Vettel crashed his Aston Martin at turn 10. Session resumed and the fastest lap kept changing hands between several drivers, until the other Aston Martin crashed into the barriers at turn 11. FP3 did not resumed, and it was Lando Norris in the McLaren who ends up the fastest.

And then came Qualifying. With the risk of rain looming around the area, everyone went out to set fastest laps, except Vettel as his Aston Martin was still being repaired. Then, with just a couple of minutes left in Q1, Nicholas Latifi’s Williams made contact with Lance Stroll’s recently repaired Aston Martin and ended up against the wall, bringing out a red flag. Once the track was cleaned up the session restarted, including Sebastian Vettel in his AMR22! (Amazing job from his mechanics and crew repairing his car after the big shunt in FP3). Anyway, out were Albon, Magnussen, Vettel, Latifi and Stroll.

Q2 went by with a few surprising drivers up on top. Out were: Gasly, Bottas, Tsunoda, Zhou, and Schumacher.

A few minutes later, the one that matters started, and it was Fernando Alonso’s turn to bring out another red flag as the Spaniard crashed his Alpine at turn 11. Just about 7 minutes left in Q3. Exciting last laps and it was Charles Leclerc who gets Pole Position with a blistering 1:17.868, ahead of Verstappen and Perez. Surprisingly, Sainz could only manage P9 on the grid. 

Sunday was a beautiful day Down-Under. The Grand Prix started with both Mercedes overtaking the McLaren and Hamilton, Perez. Then Carlos Sainz, who had an awful start, went off and beached his Ferrari in the gravel at turn 9. 

On lap 23, a second VSC was followed by the Safety Car for Sebastian Vettel, as he crashed his Aston Martin at turn 4. Four laps later the race resumed with Leclerc leading, followed by Verstappen, Russell, Alonso, and Perez.

On lap 39, Max Verstappen is told to stop his Red Bull, which he quickly does. VSC is deployed. We went racing again a lap later. The order now was Leclerc leading, from Perez, Russell, Hamilton, and Norris, and that’s the order the race finished. Leclerc’s Ferrari was unbeatable down-under and the Monegasque took the first Grand Chelem of his career (Grand Slam - Pole Position, Fastest Lap, Lead all laps, and win). Mega drive-by Williams’ Alex Albon climbing up the order in his FW44 to finish P10 and earn a well-fought point, his and the team’s first of the season. 

QUOTES FROM THE PODIUM:

HERE'S A SELECTION OF PHOTOS FROM THE WEEKEND: