2022 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix highlights

Charles Leclerc gained the 2022 Method 1 Australian Grand Prix to consolidate his and Ferrari’s championship leads as Max Verstappen suffered a second retirement in three races – Purple Bull teammate Sergio Perez ending second and Mercedes’ George Russell finishing the rostrum.

Click on right here to subscribe to our print edition!

A capability crowd descended on Albert Park, Melbourne internet hosting its first Australian Grand Prix in 1,100 days. After action-packed free follow and qualifying periods, they had been handled to a different thrilling present on Sunday afternoon.

The motive force of The Day Leclerc saved his rival Verstappen at bay by means of two Security Automobiles – the primary when teammate Carlos Sainz spun out from P14 on Lap 2, and the second on Lap 23 after Sebastian Vettel’s crash. The menace dissolved on Lap 39 when Verstappen stopped along with his engine on fireplace, permitting the Ferrari driver to cruise to victory over Perez with the quickest lap besides.

Russell took P3 having pitted through the warning for Vettel’s crash, Hamilton shedding out on one other podium by two seconds in P4 – Mercedes nevertheless outscored Purple Bull to retain P2 within the constructors’ standings.

McLarens had been a distant P5 and P6, Lando Norris a number of tenths forward of dwelling hero Daniel Ricciardo in a stable displaying for the group in orange – Esteban Ocon eight seconds again in P7.

A penultimate nook lock-up on Lap 54 noticed AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly drop from P8 to P9, whereas Valtteri Bottas gained an additional place to take P8 having began twelfth. The Alfa Romeo driver capitalised on Gasly’s mistake, Sainz’s retirement and a tough race for Fernando Alonso (P17 after a late pit cease for the quickest lap).

One in every of a handful to start out on hards, Alex Albon stopped late earlier than claiming P10 to provide Williams a deserved first level of 2022.

Zhou Guanyu had a stable 58-lap journey from P14 to P11, lacking out on the ultimate level by a whisker to the wily Williams of Albon forward.

Mario Isola – Head of F1 and automobile racing at Pirelli commented:

The tyres carried out in step with the expectations we had established from Friday’s free follow periods, regardless of the a lot increased temperatures on race day and anticipated observe evolution. Practically all of the drivers made only one pit cease, with lots of them making the most of security automobiles to minimise the time loss. The completely different traits of the medium and laborious tyres, with intentionally increased degradation on the medium, additionally offered the drivers with a large pit cease window. This allowed them to maximise strategic alternatives at the moment.

The modified observe structure right here in Melbourne helped to underline how the brand new automobile and tyre bundle for 2022 permits drivers to assault and overtake, with a excessive variety of passing manoeuvres. We additionally noticed some ingenious pit methods, equivalent to two consecutive pit stops from Lance Stroll to cycle by means of the medium tyre, and a really lengthy laborious stint from Alex Albon that enabled him to get from final on the grid into the factors.

2022 Method 1 Australian GP Race Outcomes

2022 Constructor Standings

Listed here are the team-by-team highlights: