Spain: pre-qualifying 2022

Some news after the rather lacklustre Miami race: upgrades are coming. These include for Mercedes, which I hope don’t work, and Aston Martin, which I hope do. The latter team got accused of copying Red Bull but it was deemed they were merely ‘inspired’ and it’s all fine.

Also, there’s been wibbling about having another race in America, this time in New York. More bullshit. I don’t want to watch Formula America. Between stuffing the calendar with shit races scattered across the states (excepting COTA, which is great) and the fetish for sprint races, it’s actually off-putting to a significant extent.

In first practice, Leclerc was fastest, less than a tenth ahead of Sainz. Verstappen was three-tenths further back, and nearly half a second ahead of Russell. Alonso, Hamilton, Norris, Gasly, Ricciardo and Tsunoda rounded out the top 10.

Second practice again had Leclerc top, but this time it was Russell next, just a tenth off. Hamilton was one-tenth further back, with Sainz a tenth off the Briton and barely ahead of Verstappen. Alonso was two-tenths down the road and four-tenths up on Perez, with Vettel, Ocon, and Schumacher following.

At this stage Mercedes look alright but then, they did last time and that proved a mirage.

Leclerc made it three in a row, just seven-hundredths faster than Verstappen in the final practice session. Russell was a similar margin further back, with Hamilton a tenth behind his team mate. Sainz was only fifth, but he was over a third of a second off Leclerc, with Perez next and then Norris, Magnussen, Bottas, and Ocon.

A bet that sprang to mind was Russell each way, although I am wondering if this is another false dawn for Mercedes.

Russell has been faster than Hamilton in every session and was a tenth and a half off the top time in third practice. His odds are 13 with Ladbrokes (with each way being a third the odds top 2), or 17 on Betfair.

I am quite tempted by the latter, with a hedge maybe around 4. But then, I was tempted last time. And even if the Mercedes’ pace is genuine they still appear to be (narrowly) third fastest.

I’d say back that if you have a free bet. But I’m not tipping it.

Qualifying is at 3pm, the race at 2pm (UK time).

 

Morris Dancer

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