Emilia Romagna GP: Williams Racing close to further points

The Sprint race would see the Williams racing Team drivers start Sundays sixty three lap 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix from 18th and 19th with Alex Albon ahead of team-mate Nicholas Latifi. At the front of the grid it would be Verstappen from Leclerc, Perez, Sainz, Norris, Ricciardo, Bottas, Magnussen, Alonso and Schumacher in tenth. Zhou would be required to start his race from the oit lane after his crash in the Sprint. With rain having fallen prior to the race start the track was damp but not wet enough for the full wet weather tyre so the grid would all start on the intermediate tyre.

The field would complete their parade lap and with the start it would be Verstappen leading from Perez and Norris. But there would be contact with Ricciardo and Sainz seeing the Ferrari stuck in the gravel. This would see the Williams pair now 15th and 16th while Leclerc was now fourth as the Safety Car came out. Schumacher had also lost places now 17th with Magnussen fifth and Russell sixth. Bottas would also be involved in the Ricciardo and Sainz moment but was able to continue. Ricciardo was last and would pit returning again on the inters. No further action would be taken in regard to the Ricciardo Sainz incident.

The Safety Car would come in and Verstappen would continue to lead. Vettel would pass Alonso for eighth as the track started to dry in places. Alonso would drop own the order as it could be seen that he had damaged with parts missing from his right sidepod. He would be forced to pit and retire seeing Alex and Nicholas 14th and 15th. Leclerc would pass Norris for third but was 6s behind the leader. Lap ten and Verstappen was still leading Perez and Leclerc. Norris was fourth followed by Magnussen, Russell, Bottas, Vettel, Tsunoda, and Stroll tenth. Russell was trying to make several attempts to get past Magnussen as Bottas joined their fight.

Russell would finally pass Magnussen for fifth while the Williams pair continued to run in 14th and 15th. Bottas would pass Magnussen for sixth as Zhou passed Schumacher for 16th. Leclerc was slowly closing the gap to Perez as Verstappen continued to lead. Ricciardo would pit from last taking on the medium tyre. Albon would pit on lap twenty taking on the medium tyre. He was joined by Gasly and then Perez. The pits would become very busy with most of the field coming in. This would include Latifi for Williams as the leaders now pitted. The whole field was now on the medium tyre with the order now Verstappen from Perez, Leclerc, Norris, Russell, Bottas, Vettel, Magnussen, Tsunoda, and Stroll tenth.

The Williams drivers were now 12th and 16th with Alex leading Nicholas by 12s. Ocon would get a 5s time penalty for an unsafe release in his pit stop. Lap twenty five and the order was Verstappen leading from Perez and Leclerc. Again we had a Williams car with fighting in the midfield with Alex. Leclerc would be able to get right up with Perez after Perez had made a mistake. Nicholas would be lapped by the leader as Ricciardo pitted on lap thirty three switching to the hard tyre. Lap thirty five and Verstappen was leading Perez by 10s. The DRS would be enabled which would leave Alex somewhat exposed.

Lap forty two and the Williams pair were in 12th and 16th as Verstappen lapped up to tenth placed Stroll. A small part would fall off Nicholas car ending up on the track. Lap forty nine and Tsunoda would pass Magnussen for eighth using his DRS on the main straight. Lap fifty one and Leclerc would pit changing to the soft tyre. He would drop to fourth behind Norris. He would be followed by Perez on the following lap also going to the soft tyre. Leclerc would pass Norris for third as Verstappen pitted also going to the soft tyre. But it would go wrong for Leclerc when he would spin and was passed by Norris, Russell, Bottas as the Ferrari pitted. He would return in ninth as Tsunoda passed Vettel for what was now sixth.

The order was now Verstappen, Perez, Norris, Russell, Bottas, Tsunoda, Vettel, Magnussen, Leclerc and Stroll tenth. Alex was still in 12th and Nicholas 16th. Leclerc had taken on new soft tyres as well as a new front wing. Leclerc would pass Vettel for seventh as Bottas continued to try and get past Russell for fourth as Leclerc passed Tsunoda for sixth. Verstappen would complete his final lap taking victory in the race with Perez second followed by Norris. Russell was fourth followed by Bottas, Leclerc, Tsunoda, Vettel, Magnussen, and Stroll tenth. Ocon would finish 11th but would receive a 5s penalty seeing Alex come home 11th and Nicholas 16th. A result very much one of what could have been but still another great race performance from Alex and for Nicholas just the satisfaction of finishing and setting what looked like reasonably competitive lap times must be good for his confidence.