2022 Spanish GP Qualifying Update – JP
2022 Spanish GP Qualifying Update
A quick 2022 Spanish GP Qualifying Update with a couple of bets from James Punt:
Our ante-post selection for pole position, Charles Leclerc, has been fastest in all three practice sessions so far and is now the 1.73 favourite. Max Verstappen got to within 0.072 in FP3 and it does look to be between those two.
Mercedes have closed the gap to get within 0.15 but I suspect that will widen once Red Bull and Ferrari turn the power unit modes up. Mercedes have given both their drivers new power units for this weekend which may be flattering them a little bit.
George Russell has been giving Hamilton something to think about but is 2-3 in qualifying so far. He has been quicker than Hamilton in all three sessions so far and with the Mercedes looking to have got rid of the severer porpoising, it could be time for ‘Mr. Saturday’ to lay down a marker for the rest of the season.
2022 Spanish GP Qualifying Tip: 1 point George Russell to qualify in the top 3 @ 3.25 with Ladbrokes
Carlos Sainz had to have a new chassis built up overnight which isn’t ideal, and he was 0.35 off his teammates time. Sergio Perez was similarly off his teammates time, and they will have to pull their fingers out to out qualify one or more of the Mercedes.
Leclerc is 4-1 against Verstappen in qualifying this season and the Ferrari has been the better car over one lap and looks to have a tenth in hand again this weekend. He isn’t nailed on, but I am happy with our position.
Best of the rest in FP3 was Lando Norris in the upgraded McLaren. He hasn’t had a perfect weekend, missing most of FP2 yesterday after he damaged the floor and ended up requiring a new chassis. He was 0.24 clear of Magnussen as best of the rest in FP3 and the team are happier now that they got a full session into the new car.
