2022 Australian GP Qualifying Update – JP
2022 Australian GP Qualifying Update
It is now time for James Punt’s 2022 Australian GP Qualifying Update. He has already penned an outright betting preview, check that out by clicking here.
Qualifying Preview
The first two practice sessions saw a Ferrari on top and the car does look well suited to the track. Red Bull where not quite as dialled in, they are faster in the straights, but Ferrari look more stable in the corners and while it is close, Ferrari look the most likely pole sitters. The proviso is that the track is maturing with each session and that can mean it moves towards one car more than another, and of course everyone will be making changes overnight.
Best of the rest so far has been Alpine, with Ocon sixth in both sessions and Alonso fourth in FP2. They are not in the hunt for pole position but remain cautiously optimistic for a good showing on Sunday.
No Updates For Mercedes
McLaren have made progress getting both cars into the top 10 in both sessions. It then gets very crowded with Bottas, Gasly and the Mercedes pair squabbling over a likely fifth row start. Mercedes have brought no updates and the drivers are frustrated that any set up changes make no difference. Bottas looks the more likely to make Q3.
Haas were off the pace, but Magnussen was not feeling well after a bit of food poisoning and Schumacher was being cautious. They have no spare chassis for him, so any bad crash and he sits out another race. Magnussen could still be in the frame for Q3 if he perks up and the team find a better set up.
Rookies Off Pace
The track rookies were all off the pace, but Tsunoda is on the margins of a Q3 place. Sebastian Vettel only got 18 laps in FP1 before his power unit went up in smoke. That required a PU change which ruled him out of FP3. That is only 18 laps run since the end of the second pre-season test, but he was still faster than Stroll in the other Aston Martin. With a fresh PU, hopefully Vettel will find his Albert Park mojo and out qualify the under whelming Stroll.
There is always an extra risk in backing drivers for qualifying before FP3, but I’ll take the Ferrari of Leclerc to top the pile and start from pole.
