Formula 1 is more than just the on-track action. F1 is all about the drama, the colour, and of course the sound. It is such a unique sport, it is almost impossible to get the same adrenaline rush from anything else. You can try to test your luck and gain adrenaline from an online casino but Formula 1 is forever in our hearts. With the 2022 F1 season at the halfway point, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone stands out as the Grand Prix of the year so far.
The British Grand Prix rarely disappoints, and this time the race at Silverstone definitely had everyone on the edge of their seats. A terrible crash at the start, spectacular battles on every lap, and an unexpected winner. This race has already become a modern classic of Formula 1.
The leaders of the championship, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, were considered favourites in the fight for pole position. Throughout qualifying they pushed each other to new heights, trading fastest lap for fastest lap.
It was Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz who stole the show, setting the best time for the session. As a result, the Spaniard won qualifying for the first time in his career and became the 104th pole position holder in the history of Formula 1. Verstappen started second in the race, with Leclerc and Pérez in the second row.
Terrible Accident On Lap 1
A foreboding sky set the scene for what was to come at the start of the 2022 British Grand Prix. When the lights went out, MaxVerstappen and Lewis Hamilton made incredible starts. Max immediately moved into the race lead, and Lewis passed Perez and Leclerc. But after them, all hell broke loose…
Pierre Gasly was caught between George Russell and Guanyu Zhou and touched the Mercedes. The impact sent Russell’s car sideways, and Russell collided with Zhou, after which the Alfa Romeo flew up and rolled over. Zhou’s car flew upside down to the tire barrier and only miraculously missed the stands. The car was squeezed between the fences, and after a few anxious minutes, the marshals were able to get the Chinese driver out of his stricken car. The driver was urgently sent to the hospital for a precautionary check up, and was later seen back at the circuit shaken but uninjured.
Unfortunately, Zhou’s crash was not the only one at the start. Vettel flew into Albon, who braked in front of Zhou’s approaching car. Alex hit the wall hard and bounced back onto the track. Okon and Tsunoda crashed into the Thai, who did not have time to dodge the confusion. Albon also ended up in the hospital following the incident. The red flag stopped the race for almost an hour, and the number of pilots participating in the race was reduced to 17. The mechanics managed to put the cars of Ocon and Tsunoda back together in time for the restart though.
Despite the heroism of Verstappen and Hamilton at the start, the restart returned the grid to the qualifying line-up, and Sainz again started the race from pole position.
The second start came out no less dramatic, although, fortunately, there were no accidents. Sainz took into account his past mistake and acted much more aggressively at the restart. The Spaniard kept Verstappen out of first place, repelling Max’s dangerous manoeuvre. Leclerc again did not have the best start, narrowly missing Perez. Nevertheless, Charles was eager to win back the position in the first sector. Leclerc went on a desperate attack in the fourth turn. Not without contact with the Mexican, Charles won back the place, but both pilots damaged their own front wings. The Ferrari driver was able to continue the race, and Perez went to the pits to replace the part.
The Winner
Due to technical problems, Ocon stopped at the track, which led to the appearance of the safety car. The ending once again allowed the leadership of the Scuderia to bungle a strategy call. Almost all the drivers, led by Sainz, went to the pits for fresh soft tyres, while Leclerc on the old hard tyres remained on the track and became easy prey for rivals. The 2022 British Grand Prix final sprint is sure to go down in F1 history.
As a result, Sainz won his first victory in Formula 1. Perez made a spectacular leap to second, and Hamilton had a spectacular race, although he was left without a victory. The failed tactics of Ferrari deprived Leclerc of the chance even for the podium, but the Monegasque had to settle for fourth. The top six included Alonso and Norris, and Verstappen, due to unexplained problems with the car, finished only seventh. Mick Schumacher scored the first points of his career and silenced the critics with his solid performance. Vettel and Magnussen rounded out the top ten of a crazy British Grand Prix.