How decisions Ferrari aced and Red Bull regretted led to Leclerc’s Melbourne masterclass
A second retirement in three races for Max Verstappen in the Australian Grand Prix leaves the Red Bull ace already facing an uphill battle to get himself back into the title fight. But there were several factors which contributed to the team's disappointing weekend - and they were ones Ferrari got right as Charles Leclerc romped to victory
Well, that wasn’t in the script. So far in Formula 1 2022, Ferrari and Red Bull, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, had engaged in thrilling, lengthy fights for victory. Sharing the front row for the first Australian Grand Prix for three years – in front of a packed and expectant bumper crowd – more was predicted.
But chapter three wasn’t like the previous two. Instead, Leclerc utterly crushed his opposition – leading every lap from pole to take a fourth F1 career victory and claiming the fastest lap to boot. Verstappen, from far behind in second, retired with yet more engine trouble.
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