Rate the 2022 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix

Best driver:
Worst driver:
Best team:
Worst team:
Best overtake:
Worst overtake:
Best moment:
Worst moment:
Best thing about the race:
Worst thing about the race:

And the race in a sentence:

The race in a sentence: Everyone and their dog will want to hate this race and be seen hating this race. 

Best driver: Max Verstappen
Worst driver: Lewis Hamilton Larbalestier, dreadful
Best team: Red Bull
Worst team: Ferrari
Best overtake: don’t recall any impressive ones
Worst overtake: Dan on Sainz
Best moment: The look on Toto’s face when he knew Max was going to lap Lewis
Worst moment: dunno
Best thing about the race: Max showing everyone who’s boss
Worst thing about the race: RB (hopefully) turning it back around

Edited by TheJag, 24 April 2022 - 14:51.

Best overtake was Russell on Magnussen at Variante Alta.

A borefest...

6, to match the IQ of the race director and Ferrari's tacticians.

Worst driver: Lewis Hamilton Larbalestier, dreadful

Worse than, for example, Danny Ric?

Best driver: I’d happily see it given to any of Verstappen, Norris, Russell, Bottas, Tsunoda or Vettel without complaint.

Worst driver: Ricciardo, Schumacher and Hamilton all had miserable weekends.

Best team: Red Bull 1 - 2, but Aston Martin were the only other team to get a much needed double points finish.

Worst team: Mercedes I suppose who seem all at sea at the moment.

Best overtake: Most ended up being straight forward DRS ones, so none really stand out in my memory.

Worst overtake: Ricciardo on Sainz

Best moment: Norris getting on the podium after seeing the initial predictions on the Mclaren thread I bet those fans are feeling palpable relief right now.

Worst moment: Ricciardo, Sainz colliding and Alonso being taken out through no fault of his own.

And the race in a sentence: 7/10 Lacked a fight for the lead and was a bit processional but there was enough unexpected moments and overtakes to keep things interesting I felt.

Best driver: Tsunoda - considering his machine, he drove a perfect race.
Worst driver: Riccardo, Schumacher 
Best team: Red Bull - hard to argue with a 1-2
Worst team: Possibly Mercedes, although the Alpine dangerous release was pretty bad..
Best overtake: Both Russell and Stroll made up a bunch of places off the start.
Worst overtake: The DRS passes that never happened.
Best moment: Norris on the podium
Worst moment: Alonso retirement so early on.
Best thing about the race: Aston Martin double points, credit to the drivers on that.
Worst thing about the race: The Ocon train was impervious to DRS.

And the race in a sentence: Notsobad, if you mute the TV every time Horner is talking.

Best driver: Russell
Worst driver: Leclerc for making the biggest mistake
Best team: Red Bull
Worst team: None stand out
Best overtake: Russell on Magnussen
Worst overtake: -
Best moment: Wet conditions at the start
Worst moment: Realising there’s no more rain to spice things up
Best thing about the race: It’s only on the calendar once
Worst thing about the race: Imola has been outgrown by F1. It’s in the category of tracks which are not fit for F1 along with likes of Zandvoort and Monaco.

Best overtake was Russell on Magnussen at Variante Alta.

Yeah, it was a bold move! I told him not to do it but he wouldn't listen.

Best driver: Russell
Worst driver: Ricciardo. 
Best team: Red Bull 
Worst team: not a prize, but special mention for "1 lap too late tactics": Ferrari 
Best overtake: Russell's on Mag
Worst overtake: Ricciardo (no futher comment, otherwise it's a ban)
Best moment: Toto ( as Ver lapped Ham  ) 
Worst moment: Leclerc's error
Best thing about the race: Game on 
Worst thing about the race: Ricciardo on Sainz. 

6, to match the IQ of the race director and Ferrari's tacticians.

What was wrong with their tactics? Pitting Leclerc almost worked and doing nothing pretty much equals conceding.

What was wrong with their tactics? Pitting Leclerc almost worked and doing nothing pretty much equals conceding.

 should've changed tyres before Perez. at least at the same time. (maybe not much would've changed, but it was worth a try). 

The race was interesting but quite boring. Seems as if RBR had a better car than Ferrari for the first time and, if we presume that the last pit stops by the leaders was precautionary, Mercedes, running in free air, is still more than a second off pace. Bottas is really quick in that Alfa and hat's off for Latifi who did nothing stupid. He was not even last.

Best driver: Max without doubt
Worst driver: Mick and Danny Ric, unforced errors, both ruined a Spaniards race
Best team: Red Bull without doubt
Worst team: Ferrari? Both drivers making silly mistakes, there was much more in this weekend for them
Best overtake: The battles in the rain without DRS were all quite entertaining (e.g. Russell vs K-Mag)
Worst overtake: Ric on Sainz, Mick on Alonso
Best moment: Norris on the podium after a worrying season opener
Worst moment: Hamilton getting stuck in the DRS train with visibly more pace
Best thing about the race: it wasn't a DRS fest
Worst thing about the race: RB seem to become stronger and stronger, I expect a boring second half of the year

 

And the race in a sentence: Still unsure about this sprint weekend format, I don't particularly understand why they chose this track for it in the first place, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Gave it a 7, but it's more like a 6.5.

Best driver:  Verstappen.  Perez.  The Peerless Pairing this weekend.

Worst driver:  RIC, circumstantially.
Best team:  RBR.  No contest.
Worst team:  Mercedes.  It pains me to say this but the pit stops and the car, in combination, make this weekend a big dud for the team with a ray of sunshine...RUS.
Best overtake:  Speaking of RUS, RUS on KMAG.
Worst overtake:  RIC on SAI.  See worse driver.
Best moment:  NOR making calm and measured decisions to earn an podium.  Nicely done!!
Worst moment:  HAM being lapped.  UGH.
Best thing about the race:  It ended.
Worst thing about the race:  Imola is legendary and storied but also a horrible place to pass.

And the race in a sentence:  On to the next one, please.

I think you guys are being harsh on Danny Ric. He made a mistake on first lap with cold tires. Not unheard of.

I think you guys are being harsh on Danny Ric. He made a mistake on first lap with cold tires. Not unheard of.

 

Well, yeah, but today, even Latifi managed to do a clean race and finished ahead of both him and Mick, meanwhile their teammates were comfortably inside the point paying positions, so who else?

Best driver: weekend Max, race Russell.
Worst driver: Mick Schumacher. Really. Nice kid. But not good enough. Stop hyping him, pundits.
Best team: Red Bull.
Worst team: Ferrari.
Best overtake: Russell on…who was it?
Worst overtake: Hamilton on Ghasley. Because there wasn’t any.
Best moment: Perez mugging Leclerc.
Worst moment: Sainz Ricciardo. Just racing accident, appalling bad luck.
Best thing about the race: view of cars on this track, lovely from all angles.
Worst thing about the race: the stream faltered too many times.

And the race in a sentence: Imola is a hard knock track.

Edited by Nemo1965, 24 April 2022 - 18:06.

Best driver: Verstappen, Bottas and Russel
Worst driver: Lewis Hamilton, Ricciardo and Schumacher
Best team: Red Bull
Worst team: Mercedes, for apologies to Lewis whilst george puts it on 4 with a bad front wing.
Best overtake: don’t recall any impressive ones
Worst overtake: Ricciardo on Sainz
Best moment: Max lapping Lewis and Toto's face
Worst moment: Sainz getting taken out through no fault of his own
Best thing about the race: Red Bull not DNFing

And the race in a sentence: Not much happening on this to narrow track for these cars. Good for the championship though

8 for the Sunday race, 1 for the grand prix weekend because of the "sprint race format". That's all I have to say.

The first 30 laps were fun, then nothing happened until Mr Monaco had his little spin.

Best driver: Max Verstappen followed by Perez, Russel, Magnussen, Vettel, Norris, Bottas and Yuki, Albon and Stroll. I was impressed by the quality of driving today. 
Worst driver: Hamilton, Ricciardo, but also Leclerc. If you want to be champion you need to be smart. He wasn't. This was an expensive fault. 
Best team: Red Bull, those pitstops when they mattered where great. Good strategy (easy also) 
Worst team: Alpine. What where they doing? 
Best overtake: Was it Russel who did an overtake in a other corner than T1? That one. 
Worst overtake: Hamilton almost getting smashed while overtaking Ocon in the pitlane. 
Best moment: Perez vs Leclerc fight 
Worst moment: None really. But also not real great moments.
Best thing about the race: Max his masterclass 
Worst thing about the race: Pretty boring race to be fair. 

 

a 6 for me. Very happy with the result thought. 

Edited by jpm2019, 24 April 2022 - 18:38.

8 for the Sunday race, 1 for the grand prix weekend because of the "sprint race format". That's all I have to say.

I know what you mean, but one can easily argue that the sprint was a better race.

Best driver: The Dutch lion
Worst driver: Mick? Sorry to call him out like this but I don't think he had a great weekend. 
Best team: The Reds. (Bulls I mean). 
Worst team: Alpine and Le Plan, but Mercedes tried hard to usurp them with bad strategy and pit stop gaffes. 
Best overtake: Perez on Leclerc fresh out of the pits. No mercy. 
Worst overtake: Ricciardo on Sainz. 
Best moment: Perez vs Leclerc
Worst moment: Can't think of one
Best thing about the race: The uncertainty with the weather.
Worst thing about the race: The uncertainty with the weather.

And the race in a sentence: Delicious result. 

Edited by ARTGP, 24 April 2022 - 18:38.

Best driver: Norris. Cracking start and had a thoroughly uneventful race with good pace.

Worst driver: Ricciardo had a shocker.

Best team: Red Bull, I suppose.

Worst team: Ferrari? I guess they’re just following a tradition of absolutely ballsing it up at home.

Best overtake: Russell on Magnussen.

Worst overtake: Ricciardo on Sainz.

Best moment: Norris podium.

Worst moment: Ricciardo on Sainz…

Best thing about the race: McLaren might actually be back.

Worst thing about the race: God that was boring.

And the race in a sentence: we needed more rain. 5/10

Best driver:  George Russell
Worst driver:  Lewis Hamilton
Best team:  Red Bull
Worst team:  Merc
Best overtake:  Perez on Norris
Worst overtake:  Russell on Magnussen (first attempt)
Best moment:  The Russell/Magnussen battle
Worst moment:  The Sainz/Riccardo mess
Best thing about the race:  Most of the race without the DRS
Worst thing about the race:  Activation of DRS for no reason

And the race in a sentence:  A great example of the 2022 rules clearly working, and proving the last 20 years were entirely wrong-headed

Best driver: Verstappen / Perez. Got the job done.
Worst driver: Ricciardo & Schumacher. Danny Ric has just not settled properly at Mclaren and these consistent bad weekends are poor. Love the guy but maybe swap him with Gasly or move to Indy. Mick again showing very little.
Best team: Red Bull
Worst team: Haas for Saturday's stupid tyre choice.
Best overtake: Russell vs KMag
Worst overtake: Ricciardo
Best moment: Leclerc doing a Leclerc and keeping the championship open.
Worst moment: Sainz bad luck.
Best thing about the race: Bottas competing up front in an Alfa and Tsunoda finishing well.

And the race in a sentence: Hamilton who?

Rubbish.

Best driver: Verstappen. Enjoyed Albon too
Worst driver: Hamilton. Schumacher (Having to drop Mazepin was the best thing that could happen to Haas, they would be nowhere without Magnussen).
Best team: Red Bull.
Worst team: Mercedes
Best overtake: Perez on Leclerc, could be a key moment for this season.
Worst overtake: Ricciardo’s positioning at turn 2.
Best moment: Verstappen lapping Hamilton. Not for Lewis but taking the smugness of Toto’s face.
Worst moment: Sainz his bad luck. He deserved a good race after his recovery during the sprint.
Best thing about the race: The passion of the tifosi.
Worst thing about the race: The TV director. How many laps should we look at places 11 -13.

Best driver: Max was flawless this weekend, but there are a lot of good performances this weekend.
Worst driver: Schumacher for me did underperformed a lot and I’m not sure if he is capable for this level. Since K-Mag is in, it is kind of sad. Hope he bounces back a bit.

Leclerc wasn’t the worst driver, but definitely made a costly mistake.

Hamilton was really unfortunate I guess, with the start, the pitstop and the DRS-train. The Mercedes lacks top speed. Something Russel didn’t really had to use until the last moment with Bottas. So I don’t really see much into it. But the first few races do show me that Hamilton is not some sort of god. He is really one the all-time best, but he was also really flattered the most of the years with his car. It is unfortunate that we didn’t have a lot more tense battles as last year. I highly doubt if he would won all of them. He would won a few for sure.

Best team: RBR without a doubt. They nailed it.
Worst team: Hard one. Gut feeling is Mercedes. But they put a bad car at P4. So that’s not all bad.
Best overtake: Max on Leclerc in the sprint race, because of the importance of it for the next day.
Worst overtake: That one is quite obvious. Ricciardo on Sainz.
Best moment: Toto’s face in the close-ups.
Worst moment: Sainz definitely deserved more.
Best thing about the race: This forum.

This forum: DRS is OP. We should get rid of DRS. DRS ruïnes racing.
Also this forum: When are they going to allow DRS? Why does it take this long?

I found it funny. Some of you were pretty consistent though

Worst thing about the race: All the SC’s during the qualifying.

And the race in a sentence: It was OK-ish. There were some good moments. It’s nice to see that mistakes are really punished, but on the other hand the cars are too big for this track.

Special mention goes to the beautiful scenery. Omg, that is something different.

Best driver: Max
Worst driver: Lewis
Best team: RedBull. 1 point from maximum score this weekend (someone said, i cant be bothered to check..)
Worst team: Haas
Best/worst overtake: Don't remember. Too many these days.   
Best moment: Seeing Norris on the podium
Worst moment: Leclerc in the wall
Best thing about the race: Good for the championship
Worst thing about the race: Why did they wait so long with the DRS? Imola needs it.

And the race in a sentence: Imola is outdated. 

Special mention goes to the beautiful scenery. Omg, that is something different.

 

Yes, that is actually the best thing about the race.

Best driver: There were several impressive performers, but Max Verstappen was outstanding and seemed in complete control of the race from the early stages - one of his best wins to date in my view.

Worst driver: Daniel Ricciardo for his clumsy move at the first corner and ultimately finishing last in what seemed to be the third fastest car, although Mick Schumacher runs him close for being far behind Magnussen all weekend and all over the place during the race specifically. (Lewis Hamilton, by contrast, had a very poor weekend by his standards but was not one of the absolute worst performers overall).

Best team: Red Bull, not only for having the best car this weekend and securing practically the best possible result but for their superb work at the pit stops which helped ensure their one-two finish.

Worst team: Alpine, on the grounds that a seemingly promising weekend yielded no points after another retirement for Alonso and a non-points finish for Ocon after a frankly dangerous release from his pit stop. Difficult to see any positives for the team from this race.

Best overtake: George Russell's pass on Magnussen at Variante Alta was one to savour, beautifully excuted and addressing accusations that he can't race as well as he can qualify.

Worst overtake: Daniel Ricciardo's botched attempt to overtake Sainz on the opening lap which ruined the races of both drivers.

Best moment: Podium finish for Lando Norris, I certainly didn't see this coming after McLaren's awful weekend in Bahrain and it reminded me of his impressive performances in the first half of 2021 which led many (myself included) to rank him in their top three drivers last year.

Worst moment: Seeing Carlos Sainz's Ferrari beached in the gravel for the second race in a row, even more so as it wasn't his fault this time around.

Best thing about the race: Several unexpected fluctuations in performance from previous races - after Australia, I certainly wouldn't have predicted Red Bull outpacing Ferrari with comparative ease, a podium on merit for McLaren or a double points finish for Aston Martin. With all ten teams now scoring at least one point, fears that the new regulations would lead to excessively large gaps in performance seem unfounded.

Worst thing about the race: I admit this is more of a problem with the coverage rather than the race itself, but too many laps were spent following the tepid Albon/Gasly/Hamilton battle which was neither particularly significant or especially exciting - I would have preferred to see more of Perez and Leclerc in particular even if they were not as close on track.

 

And the race in a sentence: Very interesting for the first 20 laps or so, the middle part was fairly unmemorable but an exciting finish.

 

I gave the race 7/10 as the race started and ended very well but the phase of the grand prix between the switch to dries and Leclerc's switch to softs was significantly less exciting. One negative impact of the sprint race was that it allowed Perez and Sainz to make it to the top four on the grid for the race - it would have been interesting to watch them attempt to progress towards the front on the slippery track (not to mention it would have kept Sainz away from Ricciardo!), although Russell's excellent start and subsequent battle with Magnussen did compensate for this somewhat.

Edited by HighwayStar, 25 April 2022 - 21:04.

Best driver: Max Verstappen

Honourable mentions:  Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, Lando Norris, Yuki Tsunoda, Sebastian Vettel, Alex Albon & George Russell (they all drove great)
Worst driver: Mick Schumacher  (couldn't even pass Latifi, made multiple driving errors and was passed twice by Zhou who then quickly passed Latifi)

Best team: Red Bull
Worst team: Alfa Romeo for slow pit stops on both their drivers. This possibly cost a 4th place to Bottas and it forced Zhou to overtake Schumacher & Latifi twice because he dropped back after them after his pit stop and had to overtake them again (which he did). Alfa Romeo seems to have the worst pit stops of all teams every weekend and they also often mess up strategy (just like last season) + their cars had clutch problems on several races during the start. 
Best overtake: Russell on Magnussen
Worst overtake: none  (I wouldn't call the Ricciardo-Sainz collision an overtake, it was more Ricciardo trying to make the chicane without crashing in to Sainz)
Best moment: Bottas fighting with a Mercedes for 4th.
Worst moment: Leclerc's spin + Ricciardo taking Sainz out
Best thing about the race: a Haas, an Alfa Romeo and both Aston Martin's in the points is nice if you support underdogs, would have even been better if Williams also had scored a point
Worst thing about the race: Ricciardo's bad luck doesn't seem to stop

Edited by William Hunt, 26 April 2022 - 00:22.

I would give it a 9 but because Perez was in it, it gets a 7.

I would give it a 9 but because Perez was in it, it gets a 7.

 

Do you work for Autosport? 

Edited by William Hunt, 26 April 2022 - 00:19.

Best driver - Max Veratappen put together pretty much the perfect weekend really. 

Worst driver - Lewis and Ricciardo were bad, but Mick Schumacher was probably worse. Really disappointed with Mick so far in 2022. 

Best team - Red Bull, has to be. They were absolutely perfect really. 

Worst team - Alpine probably, just one of those rotten weekends with no redeeming moments for them. 

Best overtake - Russell on Kevin, but I was happy to see Bottas make a nice pass too. 

Worst overtake - Ricciardo obviously. 

Best moment - seeing just how competitive McLaren were, and Lando back on the podium. 

Worst moment - it was sad seeing Lewis having such a wretched weekend, he really can't afford too much more of that while George is fighting for top five. 

 

Best thing - It was nice to see the competitive order changing a bit! Suddenly, McLaren and Alfa Romeo especially look genuinely competitive and even Aston Martin much better. The Red Bull 1-2 was necessary probably to close things up a bit in the title fight. 

Worst thing about the race - it was so hard to pass without DRS being allowed. 

 

7/10. It had some nice moments and some good battles, but was too much of a cakewalk at the front and had some quite lengthy dull spells especially when they dragged their heels on DRS for so long. 

Best driver - Max Veratappen put together pretty much the perfect weekend really. 

Worst driver - Lewis and Ricciardo were bad, but Mick Schumacher was probably worse. Really disappointed with Mick so far in 2022. 

Best team - Red Bull, has to be. They were absolutely perfect really. 

Worst team - Alpine probably, just one of those rotten weekends with no redeeming moments for them. 

Best overtake - Russell on Kevin, but I was happy to see Bottas make a nice pass too. 

Worst overtake - Ricciardo obviously. 

Best moment - seeing just how competitive McLaren were, and Lando back on the podium. 

Worst moment - it was sad seeing Lewis having such a wretched weekend, he really can't afford too much more of that while George is fighting for top five. 

 

Best thing - It was nice to see the competitive order changing a bit! Suddenly, McLaren and Alfa Romeo especially look genuinely competitive and even Aston Martin much better. The Red Bull 1-2 was necessary probably to close things up a bit in the title fight. 

Worst thing about the race - it was so hard to pass without DRS being allowed. 

 

7/10. It had some nice moments and some good battles, but was too much of a cakewalk at the front and had some quite lengthy dull spells especially when they dragged their heels on DRS for so long. 

 

You meant a walk in the park. A cakewalk is rather difficult... Quite a funny mistake, though!

You meant a walk in the park. A cakewalk is rather difficult... Quite a funny mistake, though!

You meant a walk in the park. A cakewalk is rather difficult... Quite a funny mistake, though!

 

Not so fast, Nemo: 

 

 

The fluid and graceful steps of the dance may have given rise to the colloquialism that something accomplished with ease is a "cakewalk".

Damn, you Ivanhoe. Beat me 

I'd be most surprised if we get a more boring race this season. New regs to introduce better racing and all we have got is the same old same old, just cars closer together that's all.

I'd be most surprised if we get a more boring race this season. New regs to introduce better racing and all we have got is the same old same old, just cars closer together that's all.

 

I seriously cant see your point. Racing was tighter than ever before, thus racing has improved. Racing does include taking a risk to overtake and not being helped to overtake. Thats the total opposite of what racing should be. All gimmicks, like push to pass or DRS, is for people that can not accept the beauty of racing in general. To me, a good race, or racing itself, is never defined by the amount of overtakes. It is defined by the battles and the tension whether a driver can overtake another or not. DRS really puts on a sh*tshow and does make people lazy and demanding for overtakes. Like yourself, if you fail to see this.

I seriously cant see your point. Racing was tighter than ever before, thus racing has improved. Racing does include taking a risk to overtake and not being helped to overtake. Thats the total opposite of what racing should be. All gimmicks, like push to pass or DRS, is for people that can not accept the beauty of racing in general. To me, a good race, or racing itself, is never defined by the amount of overtakes. It is defined by the battles and the tension whether a driver can overtake another or not. DRS really puts on a sh*tshow and does make people lazy and demanding for overtakes. Like yourself, if you fail to see this.

 

Jeez Dude, that was well said.

Not so fast, Nemo:

Thanks for the heads up. Which, pun intended, is a good description of both a cakewalk and porpoising f1 cars…