When Ferrari arrived in Imola, leading the championship on home ground for the first time since 2017, no less than a triumph in front of the Tifosi would satisfy the Scuderia.
The combination of the SF-75 and Charles Leclerc had been near-faultless through the first three rounds of the 2022 season, earning him a points tally more than double that of any other driver.
But Ferrari know all too well how strong starts to seasons can build up hopes and expectations which are dashed long before December. Leclerc’s former team mate Sebastian Vettel experienced that more than once in the recent past.
Leclerc, however, had hardly put a foot wrong over the opening races, demonstrating the consistency of a driver truly ready to fight for a world championship title. Especially against an opponent as formidable as Max Verstappen.
Verstappen held his lead as Ferrari lost out at the startAs the pair lined up together on Imola’s front row for the second time in 24 hours, a new kind of challenge for 2022 awaited them and their 18 rivals behind them – the prospect of a wet race start.
Verstappen had lost out to Leclerc off the line in the sprint race, poorly-synced gears the culprit. But when the lights went out on Sunday and the intermediates-shod field sprinted down to the Tamburello Chicane, Leclerc was the one who lost out.
Third-placed Sergio Perez and the McLaren of Lando Norris from fifth both cleared the first Ferrari by the time they carefully squeezed their brake pedals for the first corner. An even greater blow followed for the home team moments later.
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Carlos Sainz Jnr had lost the fourth place he’d recovered in Saturday’s sprint race and was trying to keep Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren at bay as the pair entered the chicane. The pair tangled.
Sainz’s race was over early again“I think I got onto the kerb to try to give myself a little bit more space,” Ricciardo explained. “Obviously at some point, Carlos has…