10/04/2022
NEWS STORY
While last season was all about Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, this year it's very much Max and Charles Leclerc, certainly for the time being.
Having thrilled us with their cat and mouse battles in Bahrain and Jeddah, we can expect more of the same today.
The Ferrari clearly has the edge in terms of pace, but if the world champion can get off the line and into the first corners first, he might well be able to fend off the Ferrari. Working together the Bulls can make life really difficult for Leclerc, and it is not unreasonable to expect Verstappen or Perez to seek to stall the Ferrari in favour of their teammate.
While Leclerc really appears to be the real deal this year in terms of being a title contender, one cannot help but feel that his Dutch rival panics just a little too easily and at times is his own worst enemy.
Ahead of a race which is almost certain to feature the VSC and probably the full Safety Car, possibly even a red flag or two, it is interesting that the FIA is clamping down on Verstappen's habit of pulling alongside rivals at the restart.
While Verstappen can count on his Red Bull teammate for support, Carlos Sainz starts from ninth, and other than the hassle of trying to get ahead of the likes of Esteban Ocon, Daniel Ricciardo and the Mercedes air, faces a tough time from countryman, and boyhood hero, Fernando Alonso.
Both were clearly frustrated by their issues in Q3 and both will be determined to make amends.
While the updates to the track have had the desired effect in terms of increasing lap speeds, it remains to be seen if they will also aid overtaking, a number of drivers having already expressed doubts. Indeed, following the number of instances of impeding one can understand their scepticism.
Other than the battle out front, McLaren will be keen to prove that this week's apparent step forward is no fluke, while Mercedes also has the opportunity to keep itself in the hunt ahead of its return to base and the much needed opportunity to sort out the W13.
Other than the Ferrari and Red Bulls, the Alpines have looked good all weekend, and but for that hydraulics issue, Alonso could have been right up there. As it happens the Spaniard injured both his thumbs in his Q3 crash, but, ever the Samurai, he is determined to continue.
As ever, the midfield looks likely to feature some great battles, with AlphaTauri and Alfa Romeo likely to be challenged by Haas from behind whilst seeking to close the gap to the Alpines and McLarens.
While Williams continues to flounder, one team that will be keen to consign Melbourne 2022 to history is Aston Martin which thus far truly has had the weekend from hell.
Back on a 'real' race track, let's hope that once again F1 can serve up what the fans really want, out and out racing, not directives over jewellery and underwear.
According to Pirelli, the quickest strategy is a straightforward medium to hard one-stopper. The characteristics of the soft tyre made it the default choice in qualifying while starting on the medium opens up the widest range of options, especially with warm and dry weather expected.
Now that the drivers are no longer obliged to start on their fastest Q2 tyres, there's a lot more flexibility, which they are all keen to take advantage of. However, there's still an element of unpredictability.
The revised circuit with its smooth new asphalt is constantly evolving, and some of those revisions mean that there are unforgiving walls in close proximity with rapid corners... just ask the Aston Martin drivers So a safety car is far from out of the question and that could reset the strategies entirely, opening the door to a two-stopper with perhaps even the soft for a final run, depending on the timing of the pit stops and the race circumstances.
Being Australia, rather than the horrid flat-bed truck, the drivers' parade consist of the drivers heading out in classic cars, and actually being able to wave to the fans rather than gather in groups and chat.
As the pitlane opens, following yesterday's overcast conditions, today it is bright and sunny. Air temperature is 27 degrees C, while the track temperature is 39 degrees. It is quite windy also, which should aid slipstreaming - of which there should be plenty on this revised layout. There is 0% chance of rain.
As the drivers arrive on the grid, Hamilton calls for a change of shoes... let's hope that he's wearing regulation Nomex socks.
Speaking on the grid, Mattia Binotto says it is "not impossible" that Sainz can work his way up to fourth.
Meanwhile, Alonso assures us that - sore thumbs or no sore thumbs - "we will attack!"
Meanwhile, as he prepares to climb into his car, it is clear that Lewis Hamilton is in no rush to adhere to the clampdown on jewellery and body piercings.
Worryingly, there is some late work being done on Verstappen's car.
As they head off on the formation lap, most are sporting mediums, though Sainz, Alonso, Magnussen, Vettel, Stroll and Albon - those with lots of work to do - are on hards. All get away.
The grid forms.
They're away! Leclerc and Verstappen get away side-by-side, while there are great starts from Hamilton and Perez. However, into Turn 1, the Mexican has nowhere to go and in addition to losing out to Hamilton almost loses out to Russell also. It's a poor start for Sainz also, while Norris is slow off the line. However, through the first series of corners, on a track which has history, there are no incidents.
Perez is all over Hamilton, clearly smarting from Turn 1, while the McLarens are hounding Russell. Further back, Sainz is battling with Schumacher, the two actually banging wheels as they jostle for position. Like his countryman, Alonso, Sainz is struggling to get the hards up to a decent racing temperature.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Leclerc, Verstappen, Hamilton, Perez, Russell, Norris, Ricciardo, Ocon, Gasly and Alonso. Sainz is down to 14th, Magnussen up to 16th.
Oh dear, Sainz' day goes from bad to worse as he spins off into the gravel at T10, the Spaniard appearing to have beached the car.
"I'm in the gravel," he reports, "they'll have to push me."
The VSC is deployed.
As the field passes by, Sainz, still sitting in his car, is told: "Engine off, engine off".
The full safety car is now deployed as Stroll makes an early pit stop, the Aston Martin driver switching from hards to mediums. Next time around he pits again and switches back to hards.
"This incentivises Plan A," Norris is told, teammate Ricciardo is told that starting on the hards was not the way to go... as Sainz will agree.
The Safety car is withdrawn at the end of lap 6. New rules dictate that drivers must essentially remain in single file ahead of the restart - no jostling or drawing alongside your rivals.
They're away, Leclerc's leading Ferrari porpoising down the pit straight.
Perez is all over Hamilton, as Leclerc and Verstappen trade fastest sectors.
La9 8 sees Leclerc post fastest lap (23.589) as Hamilton drops 2.4s behind Verstappen. Just behind, Norris closes in on the second Mercedes.
At the start of Lap 10, Perez nails Hamilton in T3 courtesy of DRS. However, the Mexican is already 4.5s down on his teammate.
A brief off for Vettel at Turn 11, as Hamilton is warned about "high temp peaks".
"My left-front is completely grained," reports Verstappen as he slips to 3.9s behind Leclerc. The Dutchman already showing signs of panic.
A brief off for Schumacher at Turn 11.
Latifi pits at the end of lap 13, as Bottas lines up Tsunoda as they battle for 11th.
While a number of medium runners report issues, for Ricciardo it's "so far, so good".
"Plan A plus 5," Leclerc is told.
At the start of lap 16, Bottas passes Tsunoda as they head into Turn 1, Magnussen attempts to sneak by the AlphaTauri in Turn 3 but the Japanese slams the door. The Dane subsequently makes another move at Turn 9, but this time has to take to the grass to avoid contact.
In tenth, exactly where he started, that wily old fox Alonso keeps his head down and gets on with the job in hand.
His teammate pits at the end of lap 17. He rejoins in 17th behind Vettel.
Verstappen pits at the end of lap 18, the Dutchman rejoining in 7th on hards. Tsunoda also stops.
Verstappen rejoins just ahead of the Alonso/Gasly battle as the Spaniard claims 8th.
Elsewhere, Hamilton is closing in on Perez as the Mexican is clearly struggling.
On those fresh softs, Verstappen goes quickest in S1.
Perez pits at the end of lap 20, as does Norris. They rejoin in 9th and 12th as Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (23.217).
Check out our Sunday gallery from Melbourne, here.
Next time around Ricciardo pits, as do Gasly and Zhou.
Ricciardo rejoins just ahead of the Stroll/Albon battle and is lucky not to be taken out by the Canadian.
Leclerc and Hamilton both pit at the end of lap 22, as Verstappen posts another fastest lap (22.533).
Leclerc rejoins still leading while Hamilton drops to 5th, just ahead of Perez.
As Hamilton is warned that "warm-up is bad on this tyre - do the best you can", Perez sweeps by the Mercedes.
The safety car is deployed as Vettel stops at Turn 5, Russell and Stroll take quick advantage of the situation and pit.
Replay shows Vettel losing the car at the exit of Turn 4 and losing his front wing in the process.
Behind the safety car, it's: Leclerc, Verstappen, Russell, Alonso, Perez, Hamilton, Magnussen, Norris, Ricciardo and Albon. Russell got the timing for his stop absolutely spot on, not so Alonso who should have pitted.
The safety car is withdrawn at the end of lap 26.
"Hold cow, that was close," says Schumacher as he is lucky not to collect Tsunoda when the Japanese suddenly slows.
At the restart, Verstappen almost catches Leclerc napping, while Russell looks to take advantage of any mishaps. Meanwhile, Alonso is hard on the heels of the Mercedes driver.
Behind, Magnussen is battling Hamilton for 6th, with Norris keeping a watching eye.
"I have damage on the front wing," reports Gasly.
The stewards have noted the Schumacher/Tsunoda incident.
As drops 1.6s behind Russell, Alonso is under pressure from Perez. With the air of DRS - and the Spaniard's 29 lap old hards - the Mexican seeps by to claim 4th.
Leclerc advised that Verstappen is "tyre saving as 5, 11 and 12.".
Hamilton passes Alonso to take 5th, as Magnussen also lines up the Alpine.
"These are very good laps," Magnussen is told, though, like Alonso, he has yet to pit. Another still to stop is Albon, who is currently running in tenth.
The McLarens are lined up behind Magnussen. Norris passes the Dane into Turn 1 at the start of lap 34, with Ricciardo unable to follow through.
Meanwhile, Perez is all over Russell.
At the start of lap 35, Ricciardo finally nails Magnussen as Russell is told that "management is more important than position". "Not what I want to hear," responds the Briton.
Shortly after, Perez passes the Mercedes in Turn 11.
A new fastest lap from Leclerc (21.986), however, next time around, Verstappen responds with a 21.677. Nonetheless, the Dutchman is 5.4s adrift of the Ferrari.
The stewards have noted that Stroll appeared to be weaving on the straight.
Disaster, Verstappen has pulled off to the side of the track at Turn 2 - his second retirement of the season. Told to turn off the engine, he jumps out and helps the marshals as smoke begins to appear from the rear of the car.
Radio replay reveals that prior to stopping Verstappen could smell some weird fluid - and it wasn't non-regulation underwear.
The VSC is briefly deployed and Alonso and Magnussen waste no time in taking advantage and pitting.
They rejoin in 13th (Alonso) and 17th.
Meanwhile, Bottas is unhappy after having to go off track in order to avoid contact with Stroll.
When Perez asks what happened to his teammate he is told not to worry, "it's not relevant to our car".
Stroll is handed a 5s time penalty for weaving on the straight.
So, after 42 laps, Leclerc leads Perez by 13s. Russell is third, ahead of Hamilton, Norris, Ricciardo, Albon, Ocon, Stroll and Gasly.
Well, in all honesty, Verstappen's retirement has somewhat taken the wind out the sails as the race is now Leclerc's to lose.
"Caution Lance, no weaving when defending". The Canadian is currently under attack from Gasly.
Alonso passes Schumacher in Turn 3 for 12th, while Magnussen eases by Tsunoda for 15th.
In ninth, Stroll heads a train of cars that comprises Gasly, Bottas, Alonso, Schumacher and Zhou, all covered by just 1.5s.
In seventh, Albon, who is under pressure from Ocon, has yet to stop.
"Let's go for fastest lap at the end," suggests Leclerc as he enjoys a 14.6s lead.
Opting not to wait for approval, or the end of the race, Leclerc bangs in a 20.966.
Finally, at the start of lap 50, Gasly passes Stroll as they head into Turn 1. Remember, the Canadian still has a 5s penalty to serve so his track position is false.
A mistake sees Perez run wide and on to the grass at Turn 13, while Magnussen runs wide in Turn 2,
Bottas finally nails Stroll at the start of lap 52.
A struggling Alonso is passed by Zhou and Magnussen, the Spaniards left-front clearly graining.
Lap 52 sees Albon post a PB though he still has to stop.
Again, Leclerc asks if he can go for a fastest lap. "Negative," he is told, "we already have fastest lap."
"You guys put me in a really difficult position," sighs Hamilton as Alonso makes his second stop of the afternoon. The Spaniard rejoins in 17th position.
A mistake from Gasly allows Bottas through to claim ninth.
From being a contender for a decent grid position and a generous points haul, Alonso is reduced to getting blue flag warnings.
Leclerc begins his final lap, passing Magnussen in the process.
"Are you still awake," asks Perez of his engineer. We couldn't have put it better.
Albon finally pits from ninth, the Briton rejoining in 10th.
Leclerc takes the flag an easy win for a driver who is increasingly sporting the look of a champion.
As if to prove a point he posts another fastest lap in the process (20.260). Indeed it is just a well, for on his final lap Alonso beat the Ferrari driver's previous best.
Perez finishes second, ahead of Russell, Hamilton, Norris, Ricciardo, Ocon, Bottas, Gasly and Albon.
Zhou is eleventh, ahead of Stroll, Schumacher, Magnussen, Tsunoda, Latifi and Alonso.
Though what will certainly be described as 'incident filled', today's race was not exactly inspiring. Indeed, though Verstappen's retirement ended any hopes of a decent scrap out front, the Dutchman never really appeared to be in with a chance.
Sainz' issues aside, Ferrari has a winning car and, in terms of Leclerc, a driver who appears to have stepped up a notch or two over the winter.
Other than Verstappen's tendency to scream 'panic stations', the reliability of the Red Bull is cause for concern, for currently it is the only possible threat to Ferrari.
Though third and fourth will give Mercedes hope, let's call it for what it is, damage limitation, for the German team, with all due respects, benefitted from the misfortunes of Sainz and Verstappen and maybe even the tactical error from Alonso's crew.
Nonetheless, it gives the world champions something to build on, though one wonders what Hamilton meant by that 'awkward position" comment - was it a reference to his teammate?
Like Mercedes, McLaren will be delighted to have both cars in the points, though, like the German team, there is much work to do.
While respect is due to Ocon, Bottas and Gasly, surely a serious contender for man of the race has to be Alex Albon, who despite his various trials and tribulations went the distance on his one set of hards and still finished tenth.
The reaction of the crowd makes clear that our Australian cousins are delighted to have F1 back in town, it's just a pity that today's race wasn't one of the more memorable events.
"We got a little bit lucky today... twice," says Russell, "but we'll take it.
"There's so much hard work going on to get us back," he adds. "We are never going to give up, we were a long way behind and yet here we are, on the podium. If anyone can, Mercedes can."
"The start was a bit tricky," admits Perez, "Lewis overtook me, he braked late and had a good Turn 1.
"My first stint was poor with degradation... but the hard, the safety car... we were unlucky and we lost Max."
"What a car today," beams Leclerc. "This weekend, race pace, we were extremely strong, the tyres felt great.
"I'm just so happy," he adds. "It's incredible to win here.
"We are only at the third race, so it is difficult to think about the championship but we have a very strong car, a reliable one too. It's great to be back in this position."
Check out our Sunday gallery from Melbourne, here.