ALBERT PARK, VIC - MARCH 17: Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport driver Valtteri Bottas (77) ahead of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport driver Lewis Hamilton (44) and Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow driver Sebastian Vettel (5) at The Australian Formula One Grand Prix on March 17, 2019, at The Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Albert Park, Australia. (Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Max Verstappen won the first sprint race of the F1 2022 season in Imola last weekend
The F1 2022 season is scheduled to have three sprint races. With the first one already done in Imola, we have two more remaining for the season which will take place in the Austrian Grand Prix in July and the Brazilian Grand Prix in November. F1 Sprint was introduced last year and involved a 100km dash with each lasting around 25-30 minutes. The result determined the grid for the weekend’s main event – the Grand Prix on Sunday.
The points system has been tweaked and is different from the last season. The top eight drivers in the sprint will be scoring points this year, previously it was just the top three finishers who received points. It’s now more lucrative – the driver who finishes P1 will receive eight points, down to one point for the driver in P8.
Besides the change in the points system, this season will see the driver who sets the fastest time in qualifying – which on Sprint weekends will take place on Friday – be attributed ‘pole position’. Last year, it was the driver who won the Sprint who earned that accolade. Qualifying will continue to determine the grid for Saturday’s F1 Sprint, with the result of the Sprint forming the line-up for the start of Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Despite the poor showing in Imola, Ferrari continues to stay on top of both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. Charles Leclerc leads the drivers with 86 points while a second race win of the season means Max Verstappen has reduced the gap and moved into second place with 59 points followed by his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez in third place with 54 points.
In the constructors’ championship, Ferrari’s comfortable lead at the top has been reduced drastically by Red Bull. Ferrari leads the table with 124 points with Red Bull just behind them on 113. There is a fair amount of gap between the top 2 teams and the rest of the grid. Mercedes has occupied third place having earned 77 points.
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