Max Verstappen entered a Formula 1 season as the reigning world champion for the first time this year, with the number one on his car and a target on his back.
While he was entirely blameless for the contentious manner in which he sealed the previous year’s title, he nonetheless faced claims from some fans that he hadn’t deserved his 2021 title. Not to mention a grid full of rivals gunning to be the one to take it from him.
But by the time the sun had set on the 2022 season, Verstappen had doubled his number of championships and taken more than double the wins of the rest of the field combined. There was no debate, no question and no doubt – Max Verstappen was more than deserving of the world championship in 2022 and comfortably the best driver in Formula 1 this season.
The start of the championship would ultimately prove the most challenging part of Verstappen’s season, and it was entirely for reasons out of his control. Following a season battling Mercedes in 2021, Verstappen’s supremacy was challenged not by a silver car but a red one – the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, who stormed to the first pole position of the season.
In the race, Verstappen engaged in a thrilling head-to-head duel with Leclerc, the pair exchanging the lead multiple times, but the Red Bull was unable to stay ahead when it got in front. Verstappen chased the Ferrari almost the whole race until, with a handful of laps left, he suddenly slowed, his fuel pump failing. He was forced to leave the opening weekend without a point while Leclerc drew first blood with a maximum haul of 26.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Luckily, Verstappen had less than seven days until he could bounce back in Jeddah. But he struggled with his tyres in qualifying and could only managed fourth on the grid as team mate Sergio Perez took pole. After picking off Carlos Sainz Jnr at the start, Verstappen ran behind Leclerc for the second consecutive race before a convenient Safety Car turned their duel for second into a fight for the lead. Verstappen eventually prevailed in this multi-lap battle, leading Leclerc home to secure his first victory of the season.
Leclerc had the edge again in Melbourne, with Verstappen unable to offer a serious challenge to the Ferrari driver in the race. Then a second fuel system problem in three races forced him out of the race again, with Verstappen only able to…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at RaceFans…