With the Austrian Grand Prix the first 11 games of 22 programs for the 2022 season Formula 1 and on Sunday, July 24, the final stretch will begin with the French Grand Prix.

The World Cup is led by Max Verstappenwho with his Red Bull is on track to repeat what he has achieved in 2021, chased by Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Sergio Czech Perez (Red Bull) and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari). The SportingNews presents five observations about what happened and what might happen.

Who will stand against Max Verstappen?

Mercedesdominant in the World Cup over the past decade, did not find the expected return in its rule change The maximum and in 2022 they are not in the big game beyond establishing themselves as the third best team in the league. Without Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen appears to have no rival on his way to a two-time championship.

Doors in and doors out, Christian Horner has made it clear that the Dutchman is the number one driver, so Sergio Perez is not allowed to fight with his partner. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz do not seem to match, especially given the performance of the Cavallino car. 38 degrees off is a good cushion.

Reliability, Ferrari’s Achilles heel

In Italy there was an illusion that this was the year. But to keep poor reliability that he showed in the first few months, the tifosi will have to keep waiting for at least one more campaign. Ferrari are tired of losing points for their own mistakes.

Charles Leclerc retired in Spain due to a lack of power, while at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix both cars were quickly sidelined with different problems (engine and hydraulics). The last chapter of 2022 unfortunately starred Carlos Sainz at the Red Bull Ring: the Spaniard was forced to jump from a car on fire. To this drama, Ferrari added bad strategies which cost him important points like in Monaco.

“The race went quite well, I had enough pace, especially with the difficult ones. We had a sure 1-2. Too bad I don’t have many words. Lots of points to go, after the good streak”, explained the man from Madrid after what happened in Austria.

no surprises

Four names have finished on top of the podium on Sundays: Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Sergio Pérez and Carlos Sainz. It’s no surprise to see either of them as the winner since they have the two best cars, but it’s worth noting that there were no “surprises”.

2021 slipped away Steven Okon with Alpine at the Hungarian GP and Daniel Ricciardo with McLaren in the Italian GP. Pierre Gasly celebrated at Monza in 2020. Will there be room for surprise winners in 2022?

McLaren is a complete disappointment

What McLaren showed in 2020 and 2021 invited to see a 2022 with podiums and victories. However, just a third place in Emilia Romagna is what the British team has. Today he has more rumors than points (81).

Lando Norris It’s intact though Daniel Ricciardo I can’t say the same. The Australian’s poor performance since last year has put his continuation in doubt despite the fact that he is under contract until 2023. He took to social media to make it clear that he is not going anywhere and that he is still trying to find the better version of it.

Alpin wants to be Cinderella

McLaren’s 81 points cause discomfort. Alpine’s 81 points are deceptive. Paradoxically, what is sadness on one side of the Channel is happiness on the other. The French are looking to break the curse of the fifth group and finishing fourth as in 2018 (under the Renault name).

Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes have a good distance from the others, so the race is on for fourth place in the World Manufacturers’ Championship. Alpine, with Fernando Alonso as a flag, it is very well sketched to achieve.