Only Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc have been widely seen as title contenders this season, but that could change at the Azerbaijani GP.
While the Dutchman and Monegasque have led most of the 2022 campaign so far, Sergio Perez has never been left behind and beat them both last time in Monaco to secure their first victory in the world. ‘year.
As a result, the Mexican is just 15 points from the top of the standings, and if he could choose a track to consolidate his title, Baku would be at the top of his list.
Czech 🤝 Baku @ SChecoPerez loves a podium in Azerbaijan! 💪 # AzerbaijanGP # F1 pic.twitter.com/bW8bJASYhl
– Formula 1 (@ F1) June 7, 2022
On the one hand, he got the win there last season, and although that was due to a bit of luck with Verstappen retiring ahead of him and Lewis Hamilton making a mistake after taking the lead in the second half, it was still one of his strongest races at Red Bull with him running after his teammate and right in front of the Mercedes before the chaos ensued.
Also, he got on the podium there with midfield machinery in 2016 and 2018. With such a record on the circuit and such an impressive form this season, we would be surprised that he is not well prepared for victory. Sunday.
That said, Verstappen is yet to be considered the favorite. After all, he would have won last year’s race if it weren’t for a sudden puncture and he still has an advantage over PĂ©rez more often than not this season.
The reigning world champion will be eager to prove that he is still Red Bull’s best dog after the Mexican stole the spotlight last time, and how the team handles things if the two end up fighting each other will be fascinating.
If anyone has to fight the pair at the head of the field, it will surely be Leclerc, the man who took pole position in Azerbaijan last year and the last time he came home this year.
He was left exhausted after the strategy put on him by Ferrari cost him the victory, and with Red Bull about to be the fastest on the straights in Baku, the Italian team cannot afford to return to make these mistakes if you want to win. the City of Winds for the first time, and you can’t afford to crash into the rankings like you did in 2019.
The regular designer is off this week, so the administrator tried to chart Baku’s racing week.
He worked very hard on that. I hope you like it. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/GGXzD0h1jF
– Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@ MercedesAMGF1) June 6, 2022
Mercedes took advantage then, claiming a 1-2 on both Saturday and Sunday, but that result is a distant dream this time around.
After appearing to have taken a big step forward at the helm of the group in Barcelona, ​​the German team was once again closer to midfield in Monte Carlo when George Russell crossed the line in 5th place, a place above where was classified, and Lewis Hamilton started. and finished in P8.
It seems more and more that the main pairing battles this year will be between them, and Hamilton desperately needs to start winning some: Russell has beaten him in every race except the first and, as a result, is moving away. from his compatriot to the classification. .
He’s not the only young Briton to impress, with McLaren’s Lando Norris just two points behind the seven-time world champion after returning home well within the points in every race he has finished since the second round.
The 22-year-old continues to overtake Daniel Ricciardo, who is fair to say that he does not look the same driver as the one who won the inaugural GP of Azerbaijan in 2017. With Zak Brown increasingly frustrated with the Australian’s struggles , a performance even half as good as that which would do him the world of good.
Eddie Jordan on Daniel Ricciardo:
“I think I would be watching his career from now on, because I’m not sure how far he can go.
“Lando is destroying him, mentally, physically and on the track. He has to shake it right away.”
🎙️ @ C4F1 # F1 pic.twitter.com/yiBAvQ4cNk
– PlanetF1 (@ Planet_F1) June 1, 2022
He is likely to fight another former race winner, Valtteri Bottas, but the two have little more in common right now. The Finn has been immensely impressive this season with his ball in Monaco, where he has risen from 12th to 9th place, being one of the best of the day.
While it has prospered, the same cannot be said of the other Alfa Romeo, Zhou Guanyu. Despite having one of the strongest midfield cars, the rookie has not scored points since finishing in 10th place in the first round and has to start offering more for the good of his team.
That’s because not only have they lagged behind McLaren in the standings as a result, they are now just one point ahead of Alpine, who last enjoyed a strong and much-needed weekend.
They had an excellent pace, bringing both cars to Q3, and Fernando Alonso was able to turn that pace into big points for the first time this year, as he reached 7th place.
One of the Spaniard’s most famous moments came to Baku when he somehow returned to the pits after a full lap with only two wheels in operation, but he hopes to be able to impress in better circumstances this year.
As the French team begins to find form, the opposite can be said of AlphaTauri and Haas who are drifting more and more to the bottom half of the field.
Neither team has added several points since the fourth round, with both not as strong as would have been expected in terms of pace or reliability.
AlphaTauri has at least two drivers that generally work well, but the same cannot be said of Haas. While Kevin Magnussen is impressive, Mick Schumacher has been poor. Well into his second year on the grid, his lack of experience is no longer an excuse, and he has to go one step further if he wants to stay on the grid in the long run.
Apparently, his performances have not rejected Lawrence Stroll, with the German linked to Aston Martin, but that would be a step back for him right now with the British team eight points behind Schumacher.
Seb loves some Baku đź‘Š # AzerbaijanGP # F1 pic.twitter.com/wbEgFzYmqI
– Formula 1 (@ F1) June 7, 2022
That said, there are some reasons to be happy for Sebastian Vettel and collaboration with the four-time world champion who has spent the entire last weekend of the race in the top 10.
If that was a single one or if you now have a midfield car instead of a marker, it will be clear this weekend. If it turns out to be the latter, considering Vettel’s track record on the circuit, expect great things from him.
Williams, four points from the bottom of the standings, will hope not.