Race Weekend Central

F1 Review: Charles Leclercʻs Dominating Drive, Mercedesʻ Good Fortune, Alex Albonʻs Finish

Charles Leclerc, the 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix pole sitter, drives at the Australian Grand Prix in 2022. (Photo: FIA)

(credit: FIA Media)

Charles Leclerc proved dominant in Melbourne, running away with the Australian GP win. Mercedes managed third and fourth-place finishes owing to good fortune. While Williams and Alex Albon used a bold pit strategy to earn their first point of the 2022 F1 season.

Slipstream Saturday: Charles Leclerc Continues Ferrari Resurgence, Takes Pole for Australian GP

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Charles Leclerc on track at the Australian Grand Prix, Prince Albert Park (credit: FIA Media)

After a two-year break, Formula 1 returned to Australia, and Charles Leclerc will start the grand prix from the pole when the lights go out.  In what is shaping up as an early-season duel between Ferrari and Red Bull, or more specifically Charles Leclerc and reigning champion Max Verstappen, the two led the way through …

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F1 Review: Max Verstappen Fights Back for the Win; DNFs Galore at 2022 Saudi Arabian GP

F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - MARCH 27: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 and Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving (16) the Ferrari F1-75 battle for track position during the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 27, 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool)

Max Verstappen overtook Charles Leclerc in the closing laps of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to earn his first win of the season in a race spelled by two safety car periods.

Sergio Perez Takes Maiden Pole in Saudi Arabia; Lewis Hamilton Out in Q1

Pole position qualifier Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 26, 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

(Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images via Red Bull)

Sergio Perez captured his first career pole on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Saturday (March 26) qualifying for the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, while seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was shockingly eliminated in Q1. Perez’s maiden pole comes in his 220th F1 start, a new record for the longest ever wait for a first pole …

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Slipstream Saturday: News from the Saudi Arabian GP as the F1 Show Must Go On

F1 Grand Prix Of Saudi Arabia Practice

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - MARCH 25: Sparks fly behind Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB18 on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 25, 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202203250569 // Usage for editorial use only //

Formula 1 faces the issue of racing in Saudi Arabia as the Houthi separatists attacked a nearby Aramco oil facility. After more than four hours of meetings between the governing body, the drivers, and the team principals, the race will proceed as scheduled. Currently, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc looks to be leading the way.

F1 Review: Ferrari Starts Strong, Magnussen Surprises, McLaren Mystifies

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Haas F1 celebrates after their drivers finish fifth and 11th at the F1 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix (credit: HaasF1 Media)

Ferrari started the F1 season with a 1-2 showing at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Red Bull faltered at the end of the race allowing Mercedes to earn vital points. McLaren looked like a mess as their former driver Kevin Magnussen scored a fifth-place finish for Haas.

Charles Leclerc Finds Redemption in Bahrain, Reliability Undermines Red Bull

Leclerc Bahrain 2019

(Photo: FIA)

Two years after engine troubles cost him the Bahrain Grand Prix by only three laps, Charles Leclerc has found redemption in Sakhir. He won the Formula 1 season opening grand prix and led every lap in the process. Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz followed him home in second place, with Lewis Hamilton rounding out the …

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