Five times F1 drivers out-performed their midfield machinery in 2022

While most of the attention is on the front of the F1 field, there were a number of outstanding performances from drivers in midfield machinery. Here are five of the best from 2022.
Lando Norris (GBR) McLaren celebrates his third position in parc ferme. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4, Emilia Romagna
Lando Norris (GBR) McLaren celebrates his third position in parc ferme. Formula 1 World…

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Alex Albon - Australia

Alex Albon’s 2022 Australian Grand Prix will♊ be remembered for his incredibly long stint on the hard tyres at the start of the race.

Driving the slowest car on the grid, Albon went 57 laps to go from the ꧙back of the grid to finish 10th - picking up Williams’ first point of 🥂the year.

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How did it happen?

Albon dropౠped to the back 🔯of the grid after he was excluded from qualifying for failing to provide a fuel sample.

Running long on the hards, Albon made his way into the points, but even with a Virtual Safety Car thanks to 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen’s stricken Red Bull, Williams didn’t decide 🐈to stop him.

Albon’s pace was fantastic when in clear air, managing to pull away from168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Esteban Ocon behind.

Alexander Albon (THA) Williams Racing FW44. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 3, Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park,
Alexander Albon (THA) Williams Racing FW44. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 3, Australian…

He ultimately stopped with one lap to go for softs, rejoining just ahead of 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Zhou Guanyu for 10th and the final point.

“We looked at our race predictions and we looked a bit sad,🍎" Albon said. "It was a race where we took risks, because we felt like no matter what we did we were going to finish 19th or 20th.

“We went in🧸to the race starting our ra🍒ce, taking a bit of time to build the tyres up into a nice window, and when you start last you can afford to do that.”

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lando Norris - Imola

Lando Norris was the only midfield driver✃ to finish on the podium during the entirety of the 2022 season.

Whenever it is wet or changeable conditions, Norris is always a contender, even in subpar mac🗹hinery.

A strong qualifying and sprint race ♏allowed Norris to qualify fifth on the grid.

He qui🍌ckly moved up to third, before runnin♊g in fourth for the majority of the race.

Enrico Balbo, Red Bull Racing Head of Aerodynamics with 1st place Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB18, 2nd place
Enrico Balbo, Red Bull Racing Head of Aerodynamics with 1st place Max Verstappen (NLD) Red…

Charles Leclerc’s spin at Variante Alta chasing 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Sergio Perez for second, promoted Norris onto the podium.

Norris had 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Valtteri Bottas ch⭕asing him down in the closing laps, ꧂with the latter recovering from a slow pit stop to finish fifth.

McLaren didn’t🍌 have the third, or probably fourth-best car on the da🐻y, but Norris made the most of it.

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Pierre Gasly - Azerbaijan 

There were few highs for Pie♕rre Gasly in his final year with AlphaTauri, however, the 2022 Azerbaijan Gran🌜d Prix was one.

Gaslyℱ qualified a superb sixth, splitting the two Mercedes drivers.

On race day, Gasly maintained sixth over 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton, opting to pit under the Virtual Safety Car.

He moved up to fourth, ga🌳ining two ♉places due to the two Ferrari retirements.

Pierre Gasly (FRA) AlphaTauri AT03. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 8, Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku Street Circuit,
Pierre Gasly (FRA) AlphaTauri AT03. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 8, Azerbaijan Grand Prix,…

AlphaTauri didn’t stop Gasly again at the secoඣnd VSC, allowing Hamilton to overt🉐ake him in the closing laps.

“We knew♏ we would get a chance to do well aft🎀er seeing our pace in Monaco,” Gasly said. “To be fighting with Lewis probably not, so I would say it was slightly better than we expected.

“I’m really pleased because we did no mistakes all weekend. We showed really good speed in practiceꦕ, we managed to translate it into a good qualifying position. And today was good.”

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Esteban Ocon - Japan

Ocon’s finest weekend of the year came at Suzuka.

The Frenchman mana🐈ged to out-qualify and out-race both Mercedes drivers on mer🎶it.

His mettle was put to the test as he defended masterly from Hamilton for most of Sunday’s shorteꦫned grand prix.

Esteban Ocon (FRA) Alpine F1 Team A522. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 18, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan, Race
Esteban Ocon (FRA) Alpine F1 Team A522. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 18, Japanese Grand…

It was hᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚisꦬ and Alpine’s best result of the year with fourth.

"To finish fourth is a f♛antastic result for us, especially in these conditions," Ocon said after the race.

"It was a difficult start with the rain and p🌠oor visibility, so we had to be fully focused to get through the early stages. I'm glad we managed to race and reward the fans who have been so good in their support all weekend."

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Kevin Magnussen - Brazil 

Kevin Magnus🃏sen’s Sao Paulo weekend will go down as one of the most memorable moments of the s🎶eason.

While his🐎 Sunday didn’t go to plan, 𝔍the Dane deserves a spot on this list for his incredible display in qualifying.

Magnussen claimed 🐎a shock pole position at Interlagos, securing his and Haas’ maiden🌳 qualifying win.

Start of the race, Kevin Magnussen (DEN) Haas F1 Team Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 21, Brazilian Grand Prix, Sao
Start of the race, Kevin Magnussen (DEN) Haas F1 Team Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 21,…

He went quickest of anyone during the only dry laps in Q3 before the session was suspended when Russell beached his Mercedes💎 in the gravel. 

Rain started to fall while the red flag was out, preventing Magnussen’s rivals from improving when the session restarted with🙈 eight🔯 minutes left on the clock, enabling him to secure a sensational pole. 

Magnussen would drop down to eighth in the sprint, before being punted out by 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Daniel Ricciardo in the grand prix.

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