It’s three races down for the current Formula 1 season and the Tifosi haven’t been as hyped as they are right now because their beloved Ferrari have won all of the said races thus far.
Elsewhere, Red Bull and Mercedes have had a mixed bag of Formula 1 2022 results and they’re back to the drawing board as their drivers are doing all they can with their imperfect cars.
With more races to go, we’re excited to bring you more of the action here at SBOTOP. For now, let’s discuss who are the biggest winners and losers so far this season.
Winner: Charles Leclerc
To win Formula 1 races, one has to find the balance between power and reliability. And so far, Ferrari have been great in all facets – making them the team to beat right now.
Charles Leclerc has generated a return of 71 points from a possible 78. In fact, the Formula 1 2022 odds favourite can afford to go scoreless this weekend and he’s still guaranteed to be leading the standings leaving Imola.
“It’s a great way to start the season, but we have to keep in mind that we’re only three races in so it’s difficult to think of the World Championship. But we do have a strong car and it’s reliable too,” said Leclerc.
The Monegasque driver is coming off a phenomenal showing in the Australian Grand Prix since he became the second Ferrari driver in the last 18 years to achieve a grand slam.
Meanwhile, his teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. will aim to bounce back after a DNF at Albert Park. The Spaniard secured back-to-back podiums prior to Australia, though, so he should be able to get back on track at Imola.
Loser: Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen has had a challenging title defence with two DNFs in his first three races. Because of this, he is now 46 points adrift of Charles Leclerc in the drivers’ standings with 20 races to go.
“We’re already miles behind. I don’t even want to think about the championship fight at the moment. I think it’s more important to finish races,” lamented Verstappen.
Verstappen won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and he was on for comfortable second places in both Bahrain and Australia up until the RB16’s mechanical issues reared its ugly head.
Fuel issues have ruined Red Bull’s plans so far, which is why they’re looking to bring in upgrades ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
The same issues have hounded his teammate Sergio Perez, although he was luckier at Albert Park. Checo finished P18 in Bahrain but he had P4 and P2 finishes in his previous two races.
Winner: George Russell
George Russell currently sits at second place in the drivers’ championship after capturing his first podium at the Australian Grand Prix. Prior to Australia, Russell finished P4 and P5 in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia respectively.
“Credit to the team at Brackley and Brixworth because obviously we want more performance and we’re a step behind Ferrari and Red Bull in terms of pace, but you’ve got to be there at the end to pick up the points – and that’s what we’ve done on a number of occasions now,” said Russell.
The Silver Arrows have fallen short of their usual dominant form, which makes Russell’s run commendable since he has also catapulted Mercedes to second in the constructors’ championship.
Meanwhile, his teammate Lewis Hamilton is fifth in the drivers’ standings after finishing P2, P10, and P4 in his first three races of the season.
The W13 is suffering from bad porpoising which has been the main reason why they’re losing competitiveness on track. Like Red Bull, Mercedes are hopeful that they can fix this as soon as possible.
Loser: Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso had so much promise in the Australian Grand Prix. He was poised for a possible podium position before crashing in Q3 due to a hydraulics problem, and he ultimately finished out of the points once again.
The two-time Formula 1 champion finished P17, which left teammate Esteban Ocon as the only points-scorer for Alpine at P7 last weekend.
“We could’ve been on the podium to be honest. I think we were a little bit faster than the Mercedes – so we lost an opportunity here and also in Jeddah. We are a little bit unlucky,” remarked Alonso.
Despite some bad luck, Alpine have been competitive since they have a strong car that has the potential to lead the midfield. Perhaps it’s just a matter of time to where it will all come together for the French outfit.
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