The 2022 Spanish Grand Prix… The start of the European Season!

 The Formula 1 World Championship is back in Europe and the Spanish Grand Prix marks the start of a return to more classic circuits. From now until the Italian Grand Prix in September, except for another traditional venue in Canada, the championship makes the old continent its home.

FRIDAY:

It was scorching hot, but everyone wanted to try all new bits and pieces the teams have brought to Barcelona, a track well known to all. The session went a bit calmly, with both Ferrari and Verstappen’s RB18 the fastest.

Later that same day, and a few minutes into FP2, Valtteri Bottas stopped his Alfa Romeo on the side of the track with engine trouble, bringing out the first VSC (Virtual Safety Car) of the weekend. Once the C42 was cleared off the track, practice resumed. Mercedes appears to have shed some light on their problems and managed a couple of very fast laps to place them second and third with Russel beating Hamilton by less than a tenth, but behind championship leader Charles Leclerc.

SATURDAY:

On Saturday morning it was known that Lando Norris (McLaren) and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) have changed chassis overnight, fuel system issues for Ferrari.

FP3 started with a bit of caution from most teams, and with just 15 minutes into the session, Mick Schumacher came into the pits with the rear brakes on fire in his VF22. Meanwhile, Pierre Gasly’s AlphaTauri had overheating issues caused by a failed heat shield. The rest of the session went on rather calmly, ending with Charles Leclerc the fastest, followed by Max Verstappen and George Russell.

And then came Qualifying.

Q1 went as expected up front, but had a few surprises in the back as Vettel, local hero Alonso, Stroll, Albon, and Latifi were knocked out. Q2 started with no cars coming out for the first four minutes, then, everyone came out, but leaving enough space between them. In the final moments, Lando Norris had his final lap deleted for exceeding track limits, and he was out along with Ocon, Tsunoda, Gasly, and Zhou. The big news came from Haas, the only team with no upgrades in Barcelona, with both cars making it through to Q3, a first for Mick Schumacher in F1.

Q3 saw everybody, bar Ricciardo, come out almost immediately for the first run for Pole. Leclerc had a spin entering the last chicane, compromising his lap. He went directly to the pits.

With a bit more than three minutes, the drivers came out for their last run, except Ricciardo. So, after all the hype, it was Charles Leclerc getting g Pole Position with a blistering 1:18.750, followed by Verstappen, Sainz, Russell, Perez, Hamilton, Bottas, Magnussen, Ricciardo, and Schumacher.

Fourth Pole Position for Charles Leclerc this year, having started in the front row in all six races in 2022, including Barcelona.

"Where have the others gone who came here with half-new cars? We achieved more than them despite no upgrades. That's called efficiency!"  Guenther Steiner | Haas Team Principal

SUNDAY:

It was hot, very hot, with air temperature surpassing 36°F at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the 2022 Spanish Grand Prix.

Alpine had the power unit changed on Alonso’s A522, his fourth so far in 2022, so he started from the back of the grid. But they weren’t the only ones with troubles, as both Aston Martin’s race was compromised with cooling issues in their heavily revised AMR22. Also, there were lots of work at Red Bull on Verstappen’s rear wing, especially on the DRS actuator.

The race started with Sainz losing two places to Russell and Perez before turn one, then had a moment going into turn four and end up in the gravel. Both cases were because of a strong tailwind in the area. He rejoined but in 11th place. A few laps later, it was Verstappen’s turn to repeat Sainz’s move at the same place, coming back on track behind teammate Perez and in 4th place. By lap 12, he overtook Perez and started his pursuit of Russell’s Mercedes now in second. Verstappen was having a problem actuating his DRS, affecting his fight with Russell’s Mercedes for third place at the time.

Most drivers started going into the pits for new tires around lap 12. On lap 14, both Russell and Verstappen came in for new medium tires. Meanwhile, Leclerc was comfortably leading the race with a cushion of more than 14 seconds over Sergio Perez. Behind them, Sainz was fast recovering places and was now 8th, pursuing Ocon’s Alpine.

At the end of lap 21, leader Leclerc came into the pits for new tires, coming out in the lead, ahead of the Russell/Verstappen duo.

Verstappen was battling not only for the intermittent DRS but also the Mercedes’ dirty air, and Russell’s outstanding defending. By lap 24, Verstappen made a move on Russell that lasted for several turns. Masterclass driving from both drivers.

Up ahead, a lonely Leclerc was setting a new fastest lap of the race. Then, on lap 28, he lost power and was out of the race. Gutted for the Ferrari driver. Now Russell was leading the Spanish Grand Prix, just ahead of both Red Bulls.

On lap 29, Verstappen came in for a second pitstop, soft tires going on his RB18. He came out in 4th, just ahead of Sainz Ferrari, and behind Bottas’ Alfa Romeo. By lap 31, Perez’s made his move overtaking Russell for the lead. Meanwhile, another Ferrari-powered car with problems as Zhou retired his Alfa Romeo.

Sainz pitted on lap 32 for the last time, coming out in 8th. Somewhere else Verstappen made a fantastic move on Bottas for 4th. By lap 37, Russell came in for fresh tires, allowing Verstappen to pass for second place. A lap later Perez came in for a new set of mediums. Verstappen was now leading the race, albeit on soft tires. Sainz was now fifth.

By lap 45, Verstappen came in for a brand-new set of mediums, coming out behind Perez, but ahead of Russell in third. Then, on lap 49 Verstappen overtook Perez for the lead after the team asked the Mexican to let him through.

Sainz overtook Bottas, but a very fast Hamilton was chasing him for 4th place, finally overtaking the Spaniard on lap 60. Impressive drive from the Briton, who was last at one point of the race.

With just one lap to go, both Mercedes drivers were advised to lift and coast as much as possible with risk of DNF. Sainz overtook Hamilton for 4th to the delight of the crowds in the stands.

And after a rollercoaster of a race, Max Verstappen won the Spanish Grand Prix in 2022, his teammate Sergio Perez finished second, with the Fastest Lap point by the way, and George Russell, third for Mercedes.

With maximum points earned by Red Bull, and Ferrari leaving with only Carlos Sainz’s 12 points for his 4th place, the championships changed hands, with the Austrian team now 26 points ahead of Ferrari, 195 to 169, and Verstappen ahead of Leclerc, 110 to 104, in the Drivers’ championship.

After five races in the season, George Russell became the only driver to finish in the top five for every single one of them so far in 2022.

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