Formula 1 returns to Europe for the 2022 season for the first time, with the field taking on Imola for the Emilia Romagna GP.
Last minute venue changes became common place for Formula 1 in 2020 due to COVID, and this led to the return to a popular circuit in both real life and sim racing, Imola.
This weekend, F1 is back in action at the Italian site for the 2022 Elimia Romagna GP, or Formula 1 Rolex Gran Premio Del Made In Italy E Dell'Emilia-Romagna 2022 as the kids like to say.
Mercedes being second in the constructor's championship after three races wouldn't have been a bold prediction last year, but an obvious deficit in race pace have left the silver arrows at the mercy of Red Bull's reliability, which to date has worked out favourably for Mercedes.
An exciting mid-field battle full of surprises has emerged so far this season, with McLaren, Alpine, Alfa Romeo, Haas and AlphaTauri all being within 14 points of each other in the championship.
The added race time on Saturday will put even more pressure on the teams who have yet to establish reliability with their 2022 cars. Add to that a weather forecast calling for a mix of sun, cloud and rain, and this should be a very exciting race weekend.
Last minute venue changes became common place for Formula 1 in 2020 due to COVID, and this led to the return to a popular circuit in both real life and sim racing, Imola.
This weekend, F1 is back in action at the Italian site for the 2022 Elimia Romagna GP, or Formula 1 Rolex Gran Premio Del Made In Italy E Dell'Emilia-Romagna 2022 as the kids like to say.
Ferrari flawless
Ferrari and Charles Leclerc's nearly flawless start to the 2022 campaign positions them as the obvious favourite for this weekend. A slight pace advantage, and a significant reliability advantage have put them comfortably ahead of Red Bull what looked to be a two-horse race after Bahrain. Leclerc has amassed an impressive 71 points over three races, with George Russell of Mercedes in second place with just 37 points.Mercedes being second in the constructor's championship after three races wouldn't have been a bold prediction last year, but an obvious deficit in race pace have left the silver arrows at the mercy of Red Bull's reliability, which to date has worked out favourably for Mercedes.
Hamilton and Verstappen
Similarly, a prediction in 2021 of Lewis Hamilton being three points ahead of Max Verstappen entering the fourth race of the season wouldn't have shocked many people, but the fact that the points gap separates them in fifth and sixth positions in the driver's standings might have been harder to comprehend.An exciting mid-field battle full of surprises has emerged so far this season, with McLaren, Alpine, Alfa Romeo, Haas and AlphaTauri all being within 14 points of each other in the championship.
Sprint races
This is the first F1 Sprint weekend of the year. Friday's sessions include one practice, and qualifying for the sprint race. Saturday will see the drivers take to the grid of the second and final practice session, followed by the sprint race. And finally, on Sunday the race will take place, with the starting order having been determined by the results of the sprint race.The added race time on Saturday will put even more pressure on the teams who have yet to establish reliability with their 2022 cars. Add to that a weather forecast calling for a mix of sun, cloud and rain, and this should be a very exciting race weekend.
Schedule
- Free practice 1 - 22 April | 13:30 - 14:30
- Qualification - 22 April | 17:00 - 18:00
- Free practice 2 - 23 April | 12:30 - 13:30
- Sprint - 23 April | 16:30 - 17:00
- Race - 24 April | 15:00 - 17:00
