(AFP via Getty Images)
The first European Formula One race of the season takes place on Sunday afternoon, while teams and drivers face off at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.
The first sprint race of the 2022 season took place on Saturday, and it was Max Verstappen of Red Bull who won the pole position for Sunday’s main event, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on the penultimate lap. With teammates in each of the two in the second row, McLaren is the one who ranks third in the grid, Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo are striving to continue their good starts in the campaign. But while Alpine, Haas and Alfa Romeo have at least one driver in the top 10 to start in Imola, the pair of Mercedes George Russell (11th) and Lewis Hamilton (14th) are facing another sad weekend that has left the seven-time world champion is already writing off the year.
Last year, Verstappen beat Hamilton after overtaking him in the first corner, with Norris claiming second place on the podium – and although the Belgian-Dutch runner-up started first this time, his teammate Sergio Perez is trying to win on his own.
Follow all the latest updates from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix below:
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
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Lewis Hamilton throws everything he has at Pierre Gasley, but both Gasley and Alex Albon are firm. Sergio Perez has slipped behind the trio and will soon receive blue flags to fly around.
Harry Latham-Coyle April 24, 2022 3:16 p.m.
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In other news from AlphaTauri, Yuki Tsunoda is doing well and in just half a second Kevin Magnussen …
And outside in the first turn the Japanese pilot takes eighth place!
Harry Latham-Coyle April 24, 2022 3:13 p.m.
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Just like you were for places 12, 13, 14: Alex Albon, Pierre Gasley and Lewis Hamilton. Gasley does a good job of holding Hamilton.
Harry Latham-Coyle April 24, 2022 3:12 p.m.
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Here are the top ten with less than a third of the race.
1. Verstappen, 2. Perez, 3. Leclerc, 4. Norris, 5. Russell, 6. Botas, 7. Vettel, 8. Magnussen, 9. Tsunoda, 10. Stroll.
Charles Leclerc asks about the strategy – it seems that he will stay away until the end, because Ferrari does not want to risk something more ambitious. This seems reasonable, as Carlos Sainz failed to score after the withdrawal of the first lap.
Harry Latham-Coyle April 24, 2022 3:10 p.m.
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Even more frustrating for Lewis Hamilton, who is trying to take advantage of Pierre Gasley’s removal from the path of Max Verstappen, but can not make the right move. Gasley then has DRS because of his proximity to the race leader, who sits between him and Alex Alban in 12th place, denying Hamilton the opportunity to use the system alone and overtake.
Everything is going well for Verstappen, which will soon tour Albon.
Harry Latham-Coyle April 24, 2022 3:07 p.m.
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Well, that must be almost as bad as Abu Dhabi – Lewis Hamilton has a blue flag and plays Max Verstappen. The seven-time world champion is circumnavigated.
Harry Latham-Coyle April 24, 2022 3:04 p.m.
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“Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse for Lewis Hamilton, but his main rival is coming around him,” was Nico Rosberg’s insightful observation of his former teammate’s difficulties. Red Bull’s yellow nose is in the spotlight as Hamilton continues to struggle to deal with Pierre Gasley.
Harry Latham-Coyle April 24, 2022 3:04 p.m.
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And a disappointment for Charles Leclerc, as he was detained by the back markers Nicholas Latifi and Zhou Guanyu, who received a blue flag but did not leave immediately. Everything has been going for Red Bull so far.
Harry Latham-Coyle April 24, 2022 3:02 p.m.
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Verstappen by Perez by Leclerc by Norris by Russell in the top five and nothing inevitable on the front to overtake this quintet. Leclerc is about two seconds behind Perez and is likely to be able to make a move, but without consistently making threatening profits.
Harry Latham-Coyle April 24, 2022 3:00 p.m.
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Pierre Gasley is the most vulnerable member of the field at the start of the DRS-activated lap – but it’s a brilliant drive from the AlphaTauri man struggling to get to the second by Alex Albon and makes sure he also enjoys the benefits of extra zipper to keep Louis Hamilton off.
Harry Latham-Coyle April 24, 2022 2:58 p.m.
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