How Ferrari and Red Bull calls led to Leclerc’s Melbourne masterclass

A second retirement in three races for Max Verstappen in the Australian Grand Prix leaves the Red Bull ace already facing an uphill battle to get himself back into the title fight. But there were several factors which contributed to the team's disappointing weekend - and they were ones Ferrari got right as Charles Leclerc romped to victory

Well, that wasn’t in the script. So far in Formula 1 2022, Ferrari and Red Bull, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, had engaged in thrilling, lengthy fights for victory. Sharing the front row for the first Australian Grand Prix for three years – in front of a packed and expectant bumper crowd – more was predicted.

But chapter three wasn’t like the previous two. Instead, Leclerc utterly crushed his opposition – leading every lap from pole to take a fourth F1 career victory and claiming the fastest lap to boot. Verstappen, from far behind in second, retired with yet more engine trouble.

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Author Alex Kalinauckas

Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.

A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.