The Prancing Bulls Win Ferrari's Race Again - 2022 Azerbaijan GP Review

The 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was dramatic - but it didn't offer the kind of drama we normally associate with the Baku City Circuit. High speed battles, overtakes and so on. 

The highlight of the race was Ferrari's double DNF (their first since 2020) followed by most retirements by Ferrari-powered teams. After starting the season strongly, the Scuderia now trail Red Bull Racing by 80 points in the Constructors' Championship. 

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In this episode of the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Soumil and Kunal review the 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix; a race that wasn't as Baku-esque as we would've hoped. Red Bull was in such control over the race that Max Verstappen and his race engineer were discussing how slow they could drive to the finish line.

@F1StatsGuru aka Sundaram does his thing too - mind-boggling stats that defined the 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

"The Monegasque has taken pole in each of the last four races but has failed to win any of them. The last driver to do so was Juan Pablo Montoya for Williams in 2002"

But how did Sergio Perez lose the lead after snatching it at the start from Charles Leclerc? It was a race of tyre strategy - Ferrari opting to pit under VSC (courtesy: Caros Sainz) while Red Bull opting to stay out.

Also, Mclaren's team orders, Mercedes' porpoising, AlphaTauri's recovery, Sebastian Vettel's rallying ways to his season's best finish & more.

(Season 2022, Episode 34)

Follow our hosts: Sundaram Ramaswami, Soumil Arora and Kunal Shah

Image courtesy: Mercedes

**Grid Review**

* **Max Verstappen**: Qualified P3 but started P2 due to Leclerc's penalty. Drove a controlled race, managing his tires and fuel to take the victory.
* **Sergio Perez**: Started on pole but lost the lead to Leclerc at the start. Made a mistake on lap 11, allowing Verstappen to pass him. Struggled with tire degradation in the second half of the race and finished P2.
* **Charles Leclerc**: Started P1 but dropped to P2 at the start after being overtaken by Perez. Pitted under the VSC on lap 9 for hard tires. Retired on lap 20 with a hydraulic issue.
* **Carlos Sainz**: Started P4 but retired on lap 14 with a hydraulic issue.
* **George Russell**: Started P5 and finished P3. Drove a strong race, making up positions on the opening lap and then managing his tires well.
* **Lewis Hamilton**: Started P7 and finished P4. Complained of back pain throughout the race but still managed to score points.
* **Lando Norris**: Started P12 and finished P9. Overtook Daniel Ricciardo on lap 12 and then held off Fernando Alonso to score points.
* **Daniel Ricciardo**: Started P11 and finished P8. Was ordered to let Norris past on lap 12 but then repassed him on lap 17. Suffered from tire degradation in the second half of the race.
* **Fernando Alonso**: Started P10 and finished P7. Made a good start and ran in the top 10 for most of the race.
* **Pierre Gasly**: Started P8 and finished P5. Drove a strong race, making up positions on the opening lap and then holding off Yuki Tsunoda.

**Key Moments**

* **Lap 1**: Leclerc gets a good start and takes the lead from Perez. Verstappen also makes a good start and moves up to P2.
* **Lap 11**: Perez pits for hard tires under the VSC. Verstappen stays out.
* **Lap 14**: Sainz retires with a hydraulic issue.
* **Lap 20**: Leclerc retires with a hydraulic issue.
* **Lap 36**: Ricciardo is ordered to let Norris past.
* **Lap 40**: Ricciardo repasses Norris.
* **Lap 50**: Verstappen wins the race, followed by Perez and Russell.

**Post-Race**

* **Verstappen**: "It was a tough race, but we managed to control it well. The car was really good today, so I'm happy with the win."
* **Perez**: "I'm disappointed with P2, but I made a mistake on lap 11 that cost me the lead. The car was good, but we need to work on our tire management."
* **Leclerc**: "I'm gutted to retire from the race. We had a good car today and I was confident of winning. We need to investigate the hydraulic issue and make sure it doesn't happen again."
* **Sainz**: "It's a shame to retire from the race, but we had a problem with the hydraulics. We'll work on fixing it and come back stronger in Canada."
* **Russell**: "I'm happy with P3. The car was good today and we made the right strategy calls. We're making progress and I'm confident we can challenge for wins soon."
* **Hamilton**: "I'm glad to finish the race, but I'm in a lot of pain. My back is killing me. We need to find a solution to this problem."
* **Norris**: "I'm happy with P9. The car was good today and we made the right strategy calls. I'm looking forward to Canada."
* **Ricciardo**: "I'm happy to score points, but I'm disappointed with the way the race played out. I was ordered to let Lando past, but then I repassed him. We need to work on our communication."
* **Alonso**: "I'm happy with P7. The car was good today and we made the right strategy calls. I'm looking forward to Canada."
* **Gasly**: "I'm happy with P5. The car was good today and we made the right strategy calls. I'm looking forward to Canada."

**Conclusion**

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a dramatic race, with plenty of retirements and overtakes. Verstappen took a comfortable victory, while Perez and Russell completed the podium. Leclerc and Sainz both retired with hydraulic issues, while Hamilton struggled with back pain. The midfield battle was also close, with Gasly, Norris, Alonso, and Ricciardo all scoring points.

# Inside Line F1 Podcast: 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Review

The 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a dramatic race, marked by Ferrari's double DNF and subsequent retirements by Ferrari-powered teams. This resulted in Red Bull Racing extending their lead in the Constructors' Championship by 80 points.

## Race Highlights

* Max Verstappen dominated the race, leading from start to finish and controlling the pace.
* Sergio Perez lost the lead to Charles Leclerc at the start but regained it after a strategic pit stop under VSC.
* McLaren employed team orders, instructing Lando Norris to let Daniel Ricciardo pass for better tire strategy.
* Mercedes continued to struggle with porpoising, affecting driver comfort and performance.
* AlphaTauri showed signs of recovery with Pierre Gasly finishing in the points.
* Sebastian Vettel achieved his best finish of the season, demonstrating his rallying skills.

## Key Insights and Perspectives

* Red Bull Racing's dominance raises questions about the competitiveness of the field.
* Ferrari's double DNF highlights the reliability issues plaguing the team.
* Mercedes' ongoing porpoising problems emphasize the need for driver safety and long-term health considerations.
* The debate surrounding pit stop regulations and driver health continues, with teams divided on potential solutions.
* The Azerbaijan Grand Prix showcased the importance of strategic decision-making and adaptability in Formula One racing.

## Notable Quotes

* "The Monegasque has taken pole in each of the last four races but has failed to win any of them. The last driver to do so was Juan Pablo Montoya for Williams in 2002." - @F1StatsGuru

* "It's only that you have to sacrifice lap time for it. And I don't think Formula One should pass a regulation, per se, where everyone needs to have a comfortable dynamite." - Soumil Arora

* "But when you see through interviews or in the driver's pan, you saw somebody even like Daniel Ricciardo trying to get himself a good twist in his back and Pierre Gasly was asking around for a massage and the likes." - Kunal Shah

## Overall Message

The 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a race of mixed fortunes, with Red Bull Racing asserting their dominance while Ferrari faced setbacks. The ongoing discussions about porpoising and driver health highlight the need for a balanced approach that prioritizes safety without compromising the essence of Formula One racing.