Australian Grand Prix 2022 F1: Ferrari’s biggest problem is not Red Bull it’s their own driver
Ferrari might have been top of the podium at the Australian Grand Prix but all is not well. While one driver is heavy favourite to win the world title, the other is furious.
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Melbourne came alive to play host to the biggest sporting event Australia has ever seen as Charles Leclerc drove to victory at Albert Park.
or the first time since 2019, Formula One raced in the Victorian capital and it was a glorious weekend - for most.
Sebastian Vettel, Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen endured horror weekends but it was better news for Leclerc, Daniel Ricciardo and the Mercedes team.
With three races done for the 2022 season, Julian Linden looked at what we learned in Melbourne.
SOMETHING’S EATING MAD MAX
Even before he pulled over and his car’s engine caught fire, something just wasn’t quite the same with Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman was a man on a mission last year in his epic battle with Lewis Hamilton but just hasn’t looked himself so far this season.
While he did win the second round in Saudi Arabia his twin retirements in Bahrain and Australia have left him well behind in the title race and his body language is telling.
Love him or loathe him, Formula One needs Verstappen going flat out without a care in the world but he is clearly frustrated with the fact his Red Bull just can’t keep up with Ferrari and Leclerc, who is younger than Verstappen, isn’t fazed by the sight if him in his rear view mirror.
LECLERC IS THE REAL DEAL
After a near perfect start to the season, Leclerc is the rightful favourite for this year’s championship, and might already be unstoppable.
Not only has he got the speed and reliability of the vastly improved Ferrari, but every time he’s been challenged by Verstappen he’s comfortably had all the answers and now he’s got a massive 34 points advantage over his nearest competitor and 46 over the defending champion.
Ferrari’s biggest problem going forward is that Carlos Sainz is clearly not matching Leclerc’s performances – both in qualifying and under race conditions – and the Spaniard may find himself having to yield to his younger teammate to help his championship prospects.
If that happens, you can bet Sainz won’t be happy and it could lead to friction within the Italian team after he beat Leclerc last season so figured he could be the top dog in 2022.
MERCEDES ARE NOT QUITE DONE JUST YET
It’s been a long time since F1 had three teams competing for the championships but this may yet be the season.
Still unable to stop the bouncing – or ‘porpoising’- that is making the Silver Arrows almost impossible to control, Mercedes are clearly struggling to keep up with Ferrari and Red Bull so far.
And while their days of dominating the sport look over there were enough encouraging signs from the improved performances in Melbourne to suggest they are not far away and it’s only a matter of time.
With his first podium of the season George Russell overtook Verstappen and Sainz to move to second place in the drivers’ standings. And with Lewis Hamilton finishing fourth after a third in Bahrain, Mercedes is second behind Ferrari in the constructor’s championship.
YOUNG GUNS DELIVER
A natural in front of the camera, Oscar Piastri looked right at home under the F1 spotlight with his cameo appearances on the weekend but Australia’s next big thing needs to get back behind the wheel as soon as possible with Daniel Ricciardo getting beaten by his teammate Lando Norris virtually every time.
It’s a travesty that last year’s F2 champion is sitting on the sidelines this season through no fault of his own but the 21-year-old can’t afford to waste any time getting up to speed when his turn comes because there’s plenty of other young drivers already making their mark in the sport’s premier class.
The defending champion Verstappen and the championship leader Leclerc are both just 24 and almost half of the current crop of drivers are under 25. Norris, 22, George Russell, 24, Lance Stroll, 23, Estaban Ocon, 25, have all had podium finishes already while Yuki Tsunoda, 21, Zhou Guanyu, 22 and Mick Schumacher, 23 all have an experience edge over Piastri.
THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX IS BACK
After a two-year absence, the race returned bigger and better than ever and is here to stay. The crowds in the world’s most locked-down city voted with their feet, turning up in record numbers, while the new cars and the modifications to the Albert Park circuit combined to produce a classic race that will bring them all back again next year.
But local organisers need to capitalise on this weekend’s success to remind the sport’s officials that Australia should be immediately reinstated as the first race of the season. They are likely to get the vote of the drivers, who complained of being blinded by the setting sun after the end of daylight savings.
FLAWLESS LECLERC RULES OVER AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
Ferrari star Charles Leclerc is refusing to be distracted by championship talk after continuing his early season charge with a dominant victory in the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.
After starting from pole position, Leclerc led the race from start to finish to extend his lead in the drivers’ championship as his rival Max Verstappen and teammate Carlos Sainz both failed to finish the race.
It was a faultless performance from 24-year-old Leclerc, who survived two safety car restarts to take Ferrari’s first win in the Australian Grand Prix since 2018.
Stamping himself the class of the field, Leclerc also claimed the fastest lap of the race after proving to be the pacesetter all weekend.
Leclerc now holds a 34-point lead in the championship over Mercedes’ George Russell ahead of the next race in Italy - the home of Ferrari - at the end of the month.
The 24-year-old Monegasque driver, who claimed the fourth race win of his career, said it was too early in the year to start thinking about the championship.
“It is still very early in the season, obviously but it is good to be in the lead of the championship - I think I lead by 34 points - it is always good to take whenever you are in the calendar,” Leclerc said.
“But I do not want to focus too much on the championship for now.
“Italy will be incredible but we need to approach the race weekend just like we approach the first three weekends, I think it is extremely important not to put on ourselves extra pressure and not try to overdo things.
“We are working as a team extremely well since the beginning of the season and we just need to keep doing our job just like we did in the first few weekends.”
Leclerc admitted he had been surprised by how dominant his win had been as he finished ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Russell, who helped revive Mercedes’ hopes following a difficult start to the season after finishing third with teammate Lewis Hamilton fourth.
“I think we were all surprised by our pace,” Leclerc said.
“Honestly what a car today … of course I did a good job all weekend but it was not possible without the car and this weekend, especially with the race pace we were extremely strong, the tyre felt great from the first lap to the last lap.”
It was a different story for Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz, who prompted an early safety car after he beached his Ferrari in the gravel on the second lap of the race.
After starting from ninth on the grid, Sainz had a poor start off the line and quickly dropped back five places to 14th.
But his short-lived race went from bad to worse when he ran off the track into the grass, lost control and skidded back across the track and into the kitty litter at the exit to turn 10.
Perez said Ferrari was a class above.
“I think Ferrari were super strong today,” Perez said.
“We couldn’t match them at any point. It’s the first weekend that they are a step ahead.
“Even yesterday I thought we were a bit closer that we have shown. But yeah today they were on another level.
“I think we were also a bit too poor with our balance. We took a bit of the wrong direction with the car so I think there is some analysis to do.
“I’m sure we will learn a lot from this weekend”
Aston Martin veteran Sebastian Vettel’s horror weekend and start to the season continued after crashing out and prompting a safety car on lap 24.
After missing the first two races of the season after contracting Covid, Vettel has had a bad weekend in Melbourne.
The four-time world champion was fined for his “unauthorised” ride on a scooter around Albert Park getting himself back to the pits after his car broke down in practice on Friday.
Then he crashed out in final practice before qualifying on Saturday just 20 minutes into the session.
LAP 57/58 - LECLERC LEADS, HAMILTON NOT HAPPY
Lewis Hamilton has had some choice words for his team as he sits in fourth spot: “you guys have put me in a realy difficult position”.
It doesn’t look like anyone will challenge Charles Leclerc, with little more than a lap to go.
The Ferrari has just looked unstoppable today. Truly dominant.
LAP 53/58 - LECLERC LEADS, RICCIARDO EYES TOP 5
We’re almost finished at Albert Park, with Charles Leclerc’s lead up to 20 seconds over Sergio Perez.
Are there any twists remaining?
Daniel Ricciardo is sixth, and four seconds behind teammate Lando Norris.
The race for third, between Mercedes teammates George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, looks like the spiciest battle remaining in this field.
LAP 48/58 - LECLERC BLITZING FIELD
Ten laps to go... and it is Charles Leclerc’s race to lose.
He’s putting up the fastest laps of the race, and has extended his lead over second-placed Perez to nearly 15 seconds.
LAP 45/58 - RICCIARDO MAKING MOVES, LECLERC UNSTOPPABLE
Daniel Ricciardo has moved up to sixth, putting his vision of a top-five finish within touching distance.
But everyone is chasing Charles Leclerc, who has broken this race open with a now 13-second lead on Sergio Perez - having seen off the fight from Max Verstappen.
Perez inquired about Verstappen’s car issue, but was told by team officials not to worry.... he seemed less than convinced about that answer!
Meanwhile, a five-second penalty has been handed to Lance Stroll for weaving on the straight.
CROWDS FLOCK TO ALBERT PARK
This just in from the Australian Grand Prix...
“The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2022 has recorded an estimated attendance of 419,114 over the four days, eclipsing the previous record of 401,000 set at Melbourne’s first event in 1996.
Today’s announcement comes after Sunday saw an estimated attendance of 128,294, that followed estimated attendances of 123,247 on Saturday, 112,446 on Friday and 55,107 on Thursday.
The total estimated attendances on both Friday and Saturday are the highest day two and day three numbers since the first Melbourne race in 1996, while today’s estimated attendance is the third-highest race day number over that time.”
LAP 39/58 - VERSTAPPEN OUT! CAR ‘S**T ITSELF’
By Rebecca Williams
World champion Max Verstappen’s championship fight with Charles Leclearc has been dealt a major blow after he was forced to retire from the race.
In a dramatic twist to the Australian Grand Prix, Verstappen’s Red Bull came to a stop at the side of the track on lap 39 as he was in pursuit of race leader Leclerc.
The Dutchman quickly jumped out of the car and shut the engine off as the fire extinguishers were deployed to douse smoke coming from the car’s engine.
“I smell some weird fluid,” Verstappen said on the team radio.
“Everything is ****itself.”
It was Verstappen’s second retirement for the season after he failed to finish in the opening race of the season in Bahrain.
Coming into the third race at Albert Park, Verstappen sat third in the championship behind Ferrari pair Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
Verstappen won the second race of the year in Saudi Arabia and had started the Australian Grand Prix second on the grid and was on track for a podium finish.
LAP 36/58 - RICCIARDO TAKES EIGHTH IN NICE MOVE
Daniel Ricciardo is putting the pressure on Kevin Magnussen in the battle for eighth - after teammate Lando Norris took seventh spot off the Haas driver.
And he does it! A fairly simple move, and Ricciardo moves up to eighth, and is back behind his teammate. UP the front, Leclerc’s lead is out to 5.5sec.
Perez is putting George Russell under enormous pressure and.... he takes him! Russell had been warned by team management to let Perez go by in order to save his tyres.
“That’s not what I wanted to hear,” Russell said, before relenting.
Not sure he’s thrilled about that.
LAP 32/58 - LECLERC LEAD BUILDS
26 laps to go... and Charles Leclerc has rebuilt his lead over Max Verstappen. It’s up to 3.5sec now, with Russell sitting in third.
Here's a look at how the top ten looks:
Leclerc
Verstappen
Russell
Perez
Hamilton
Alonso
Magnussen
Norris
Ricciardo
Albon
LAP 28/58 - VETTEL’S AUSTRALIAN NIGHTMARE COMES TO AN END
Whoah! After leading untroubled for the first 27 laps, Charles Leclerc falls foul of the safety car - which wipes out his handy lead - and Max Verstappen almost took his chance.
With the race restarted, Verstappen went within a whisker of taking Leclerc on the inside.
He was all over him, but Leclerc holds firm and blocks his path.
Daniel Ricciardo remains in ninth position, just behind Norris. But with Alonso and Magnusson still to pit, the Australian can make some moves up the board soon.
LAP 26/58 - VETTEL’S AUSTRALIAN NIGHTMARE COMES TO AN END
Another apology incoming from Vettel? This caps off a pretty awful couple of days.
LAP 24/58 âš ï¸ SAFETY CAR âš ï¸
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 10, 2022
Vettel has hit the wall and stopped on track
A tough weekend for the Aston Martin driver 😫#AusGP#F1pic.twitter.com/JEBFJZGcVz
LAP 24/58 - HAMILTON, PEREZ IN GRIPPLING BATTLE, VETTEL WIPED
Ricciardo pits and manages to hold his nerve to come in behind teammate Lando Norris.
It got tense there with Lance Stroll pushing HARD to try and sneak ahead of the Australian, but Ricciardo holds firm.
He’s dropped back to 10th but will sneak back up as other drivers pit.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton has won his little battle with Sergio Perez - returning from the pits clearly ahead of the Red Bull driver.
But Perez pulls off a very sharp move to overtake the Brit.
And now the safety car returns! It looks like Sebastian Vettel’s day is done.
This has been a truly horror weekend for Vettel! Wraps it up neatly.
TOP SEVEN
Leclerc
Russell
Verstappen
Alonso
Perez
Hamilton
Magnusson
...9. Ricciardo
LAP 21/58 - RED BULL PIT, BATTLE FOR SECOND HEATS UP
Verstappen has taken an early pit - taking 19 seconds - and he’s dropped back to seventh.
The pit stops are expected to take about 20 seconds, so good job from Red Bull there. But worryingly, Perez is slipping further and further behind Leclerc.
He’s also in a battle for second place with Lewis Hamilton - who actually slips into second as Sergio Perez goes into the pits.
Daniel Ricciardo has avoided the pits so far, and has moved up to fourth, but he’ll likely be putting in the next lap or two.
LAP 16/58 - LECLERC SIZZLING AT ALBERT PARK
Could we be witnessing a wire-to-wire victory here from Charles Leclerc?
While his teammate has had a nightmare weekend, the same cannot be said for Leclerc who is in cruise control up the front.
Through 16 laps, he has built up a seven second advantage over Max Verstappen and it simply looks like his Ferrari is too powerful for the Red Bulls who are sitting comfortably in second and third.
The Mercedes duo of Hamilton and Russell are holding fourth and fifth spots, while Daniel Ricciardo (in seventh) just trails McLaren teammate Lando Norris.
LAP 10/58 - PEREZ MAKES MOVE, VETTEL SPINS OUT
Sergio Perez makes a key move on turn 10, blazing past Lewis Hamilton in one of the DRS zones - the first significant change in the top five.
Perez now sets his sights on Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen, who he trails by four seconds.
And Sebastian Vettel is in the gravel! That’s not a good place to be, Seb.
“Sorry for that...” he tells his team.
He’s fallen back to 19th, the last driver in the field - with Carlos Sainz already out.
It’s smooth sailing up the front, with Leclerc opening up a 4-second lead on the Red Bulls.
LAP 8/58 LECLERC AFTER DRAMATIC START
The safety car is gone, a furious Carlos Sainz is back at pit lane and the grand prix is back underway.
Charles Leclerc is looking comfortable up front, pulling away from the Red Bull of Max Verstappen, as drivers set a cracking pace.
Your top seven after eight laps:
Charles Leclerc
Max Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton
Sergio Perez
George Russell
Lando Norris
Daniel Ricciardo
FROM THE TRACK: SAINZ CAPS HORROR WEEKEND
By Rebecca Williams, at Albert Park
Carlos Sainz has prompted an early safety car in the Australian Grand Prix after beaching his Ferrari in the gravel on the second lap of the race.
After starting from ninth on the grid, Sainz didn’t have a great start off the line and quickly dropped back five places to 14th in the field.
But his start to the race got worse from there when he ran off the track into the grass, lost control and skidded back across the track and into the kitty litter at the exit to turn 10.
Pole sitter Charles Leclerc and world champion Max Verstappen retained their starting positions, while Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton made the biggest move off the start line.
Starting from fifth on the grid, Hamilton jumped a couple of places and sat third as the race awaited a restart.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo retained his start position in seventh place.
LAP 3/58 LECLER LEADS, FERRARI ROCKED BY WILD START
Drama!
It’s always a wild start at Albert Park, and the saftey car is already out in the middle in a dramatic couple of laps for Ferrari.
Race favourite Charles Leclerc has managed to avoid the carnage, with a clean start, but the news was far worse for teammate Carlos Sainz who has had a horror weekend.
He’d already dropped back from ninth to 14th after botching the start, and has brought out the virtual safety car after beaching his Ferrari on turn 10.
He wasn’t the only driver to struggle early, with Lando Norris dropping to sixth - one ahead of Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo.
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, has jumped up to third.
3.00PM: IT’S ON!
It’s been a long time coming, but Formula One is back at Albert Park.
Following two Covid-enforced cancellations in the past two years, the drivers have completed their formation lap and we’re ready for the action to start.
Most pundits expect it to be a showdown between pole holder Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen - but the controversial Dutchman believes he’s in for a tough time.
Do you believe him?
“The weekend so far has been a bit of a struggle, there is a gap between Charles and I,” he said.
“But second of course is not bad and I think there is a lot more potential in the car than we are showing at the moment.
“I think we have a good race car and in race conditions everything stabilises a bit, so it is more consistent.”
2.45PM: SOLVING F1’S MOST PUZZLING DILEMMA
Porpoising... It’s been an issue since Bahrain testing and it’s not going away.
Honestly drivers must have migraines the amount of movement we’re seeing – particularly in the Ferrari and Mercedes – but it seems the latter have taken a big risk in Melbourne that could explain their sluggish times.
According to one expert there’s an addition to the silver arrows car this weekend.
“To get to the bottom of the bouncing issue Mercedes mounted additional sensors for this whole weekend (including quali & race), making the already overweight car another 1,5 kilo heavier. Solving that problem obviously is very important,” writes Tobi Gruner, a motorsport journalist in Europe.
A theory circulating is that porpoising has to do more with the suspension and is triggered by deflections from bumpy surfaces and not diffuser stall. The below video shows the F1-75 on a brand new smooth track on a long straight. pic.twitter.com/ajwfpWTIRk
— Dr Obbs (@dr_obbs) April 8, 2022
2.25PM: IS IT FERRARI’S TIME TO SHINE AT ALBERT PARK?
Charles Leclerc has often struggled around the Albert Park circuit but he finally conquered it on Saturday to take pole for the Australian Grand Prix -- even as the setting sun presented yet another challenge.
The Ferrari number one from Monaco said it was a track that didn’t suit his driving style, but in a measure of how far he has progressed, it all came together in a blistering lap at the death in Melbourne.
It was enough to edge out Red Bull’s world champion Max Verstappen, who will start second on Sunday, as the pair provided more evidence that they are the men to beat this season.
“It was a good lap, this time I took quite a lot of risks, especially in Turn six, which was quite tricky,” said the 24-year-old, the early championship leader who is looking to build on victory at the season-opening race in Bahrain last month.
Watch Every Practice, Qualifying & Race of the 2022 FIA Formula One World Championship™ Live on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
“I wasn’t really on this corner during qualifying, doing some mistakes, and then in the last Q3 lap I managed to gain quite a bit on myself compared to the other laps.
“Very happy, especially on a track like this where I have always struggled in the past and also in practices.
“But I was working on consistency and I just managed to put that lap together. So very, very happy and it’s good to be starting on pole tomorrow.” Albert Park has undergone its most significant changes since it first hosted a race in 1996, with the track fully resurfaced.
Seven corners have been modified and two removed this year, reducing the number of turns and offering better overtaking opportunities.
Leclerc said it remained a tough configuration.
“To be honest I was also struggling on the previous layout. I’ve always struggled with these type of corners that are not really 90 degrees,” he said.
“Always struggling with my driving style here, but I think it’s also a general thing with all the drivers. It’s a very tricky track, a very challenging track.” Making it even more difficult was the setting sun late in qualifying, which hindered drivers’ visibility.
Leclerc was heard asking Ferrari to give him a new helmet fitted with “the darkest visor you have” as qualifying ran some 30 minutes deeper into the evening due to red flag incidents.
“It was definitely extremely tricky,” he said.
2.00PM: F1 VILLAIN FUMES OVER AUS GP ‘MYSTERY’
By Rebecca Williams
World champion Max Verstappen has labelled the removal of a DRS zone for the Australian Grand Prix as a “mystery”, saying it would have helped the racing.
Changes to the track lay-out at Albert Park had provided for the introduction of a fourth DRS zone but the FIA announced Saturday it would be reduced to three for safety reasons.
Asked about his thoughts on overtaking opportunities at the track following qualifying, the Red Bull star said it would be harder without the extra DRS zone.
“Well, of course, with taking away one DRS zone, it’s going to be harder,” Verstappen said.
“I don’t really understand why they took it away, because it was much safer than what we do in Jeddah, for example. So it’s a bit of a mystery to me why that happened.
“There was only one team who complained about it and it got removed (Saturday) morning so I don’t really understand because for me, it was way easier than doing it in, for example, in Jeddah because there was way more corners.
“For me there was never any issue with driving there with the DRS open. So yeah, you have to ask, I guess, the FIA why they took it away.
“It’s a shame because it would have helped, you know, the racing.”
Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez also agreed.
“It’s a bit of a shame because I think for …the race, definitely the racing could have been a lot better,” Perez said.
1.45PM: RICCIARDO ‘OVERWHELMED’ BY HOME PRESSURES
We’re a little more than an hour until the start of the Australian Grand Prix, and for many Australians it will be all eyes on local hope Daniel Ricciardo.
Ricciardo will start this afternoon’s race in seventh on the grid, and the Australian is optimistic he can buck his rough start to the year and land a big result in his home grand prix.
The McLaren driver was swamped by fans on Sunday before the race, heaping even more pressure as he aims to deliver in front of a supportive home crowd.
“It’s definitely overwhelming, but in the best way. Everyone’s been so supportive today,” he said.
“I think seventh is a decent enough place to have a good crack. I’ll give it my best and hopefully end up somewhere around the Top 5.”
1.20PM: F1’S BLINDING ISSUE WORRIES DRIVERS
By Rebecca Williams
The fading sun in today’s Australian Grand Prix could prove to be an issue for drivers after Formula One stars complained about the late-afternoon glare during qualifying.
Pole sitter Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez both said the sun was an issue for them during qualifying on Saturday.
Qualifying was held between 4- 5pm on Saturday with today’s race running from 3-5pm on another sunny day in Melbourne.
Speaking after claiming his second pole for the year, Leclerc admitted he had battled with the glare.
“It’s a very tricky track, a very challenging track for drivers. And it was even tricker with the sun,” the Ferrari star and championship leader said.
“The sun in Q2, we just couldn’t see anything.
“In Q3 a little better, on the first run (it) was good, (the) second run wasn’t. It was a very tricky session.”
Perez, who will start third on the grid behind teammate Max Verstappen, also said he had to adjust for the sun.
“I think the biggest thing was the sun,” Perez said.
“It was coming down and then getting darker. So, we were playing with the visors a lot on my first Q3, run one.
“It was completely dark and there was no sun, so I went back and then there was a lot of sun.
“So (I) didn’t get it right (with) the visor.”
This year’s Australian Grand Prix is being held later in the year than normal, following the end of day-light savings, after the race lost its customary home at the start of the calendar.
12.45pm: F1’S ‘WORST EVER DRIVER’ SLAMS ‘STUPIDEST ACCIDENT’
Lance Stroll is never far from controversy and he was the one copping the blame for the nasty incident that red flagged Q1 on Saturday.
The Canadian clipped compatriot Nicholas Latifi’s car ending both their sessions and initiating an f-bomb tirade.
It was described by former F1 driver Taki Inoue as “The stupidest accident in F1 since Taki Inoue”.
Inoue, who raced in 17 F1 Grands Prix, is largely regarded as the worst F1 driver in the sport’s history – a title he tends to agree with.
So his analysis might just sting a little extra for Stroll and Latifi when they watch Inoue’s highlights reel.
Not only did he smash into the course car at the Monaco Grand Prix in 1995 but he was run over by a marshal car at the Hungarian the same year.
The stupidest accident in F1 since Taki Inoue. https://t.co/BXMMWLKlxC
— Taki Inoue (@takiinoue) April 9, 2022
Inoue had a unique strategy for testing if a driver had serious injuries too. Grab their testicles and watch for a reaction.
“When balls move, brain is fine,” he told Top Gear. “When big crash, (take) scissors, take off the overalls, see the balls, hit the balls, then when balls move, this guy’s fine. If balls don’t move, then there’s a problem with brain damage, I think.”
F1 STAR BOOTED TO BACK OF GRID FOR AUSGP
Alex Albon was dropped to the back of the grid for the Australian Grand Prix because there was not enough fuel in his Williams to provide a test sample after Saturday qualifying, officials said.
The F1 website reported that Albon “stopped out on track after dropping out of Q1” and that Williams “were later unable to provide the required 1.0-litre fuel sample to the FIA.” Albon finished with the 16th best time in the first qualifying run, too slow to progress to the last two sessions.
He was already facing a three-place grid penalty for his crash with Lance Stroll in the previous race in Saudi Arabia.
That meant the decision to scrub out the time he recorded effectively cost him just one grid place.
“The stewards therefore disqualified the Thai driver from the results of qualifying - although he will be allowed to start Sunday’s race,” said the website.
The penalty also lifted Stroll out of last place on the grid. After qualifying last, the Canadian was then handed a three-place penalty for colliding with the other Williams, driven by Nicholas Latifi, on Saturday.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc starts on pole after a blistering lap at the death of a chaotic qualifying session on Saturday.
Leclerc has often struggled in Mlebourne so the new look track will suit him well.
Albert Park has undergone its most significant changes since it first hosted a race in 1996, with the track fully resurfaced.
Seven corners have been modified and two removed this year, reducing the number of turns and offering better overtaking opportunities.
Leclerc said it remained a tough configuration.
“To be honest I was also struggling on the previous layout. I’ve always struggled with these type of corners that are not really 90 degrees,” he said.
“Always struggling with my driving style here, but I think it’s also a general thing with all the drivers. It’s a very tricky track, a very challenging track.” Making it even more difficult was the setting sun late in qualifying, which hindered drivers’ visibility.
Leclerc was heard asking Ferrari to give him a new helmet fitted with “the darkest visor you have” as qualifying ran some 30 minutes deeper into the evening due to red flag incidents.
“It was definitely extremely tricky,” he said.
AN ISSUE FOR DRIVERS
By Rebecca Williams
The fading sun in today’s Australian Grand Prix could prove to be an issue for drivers after Formula One stars complained about the late-afternoon glare during qualifying.
Pole sitter Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez both said the sun was an issue for them during qualifying on Saturday.
Qualifying was held between 4- 5pm on Saturday with today’s race running from 3-5pm on another sunny day in Melbourne.
Speaking after claiming his second pole for the year, Leclerc admitted he had battled with the glare.
“It’s a very tricky track, a very challenging track for drivers. And it was even tricker with the sun,” the Ferrari star and championship leader said.
“The sun in Q2, we just couldn’t see anything.
“In Q3 a little better, on the first run (it) was good, (the) second run wasn’t. It was a very tricky session.”
Perez, who will start third on the grid behind teammate Max Verstappen, also said he had to
“I think the biggest thing was the sun,” Perez said.
“It was coming down and then getting darker. So, we were playing with the visors a lot on my first Q3, run one.
“It was completely dark and there was no sun, so I went back and then there was a lot of sun.
“So (I) didn’t get it right (with) the visor.”
This year’s Australian Grand Prix is being held later in the year than normal, following the end of day-light savings, after the race lost its customary home at the start of the calendar.
HOW THEY START
Originally published as Australian Grand Prix 2022 F1: Ferrari’s biggest problem is not Red Bull it’s their own driver
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