Verstappen in charge, Mercedes recover from woes as Ferrari falter - GPFans F1 season so far

F1's new generation of car has provided stunning racing so far with drama up and down the grid.

The summer break is upon us with Max Verstappen and Red Bull surging into sizeable leads in both championships, with Mercedes failing to come to terms with the regulation changes and Ferrari faltering despite an obviously fast car.

With just nine races remaining after the shutdown, GPFans runs you through the season so far!

Bahrain Grand Prix

Ferrari and Red Bull threw down the gauntlet for the season with sublime pace and Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc instantly went to battle.

Leclerc won out, with Carlos Sainz second for Ferrari as both Red Bull's retired with reliability issues late on.

Lewis Hamilton took advantage of Red Bull'd double blow to finish third, while Haas scored points at the first time of asking through the returning Kevin Magnussen.

Drivers' standings after round one

1. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 26 Points

2. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 18

3. Lewis Hamilton [Mercedes] - 15

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 12

5. Kevin Magnussen [Haas] - 10

Constructors' standings after round one

1. Ferrari - 44 Points

2. Mercedes - 27

3. Haas - 10

4. Alfa Romeo - 9

5. Alpine - 8

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Verstappen and Leclerc battled again in Jeddah after Sergio Perez was taken out of the lead by a poorly-timed safety car.

This time, the speed of the Red Bull in a straight-line proved crucial as the reigning F1 champion took victory.

Sainz rounded out the podium to increase Ferrari's lead in the constructors' standings.

Drivers' standings after round two

1. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 45 Points

2. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 33

3. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 25

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 22

5. Lewis Hamilton [Mercedes] - 16

Constructors' standings after round two

1. Ferrari - 78 Points

2. Mercedes - 38

3. Red Bull Racing - 37

4. Alpine - 16

5. Haas - 12

Australian Grand Prix

There was no hint of a fight between Ferrari and Red Bull in Albert Park, with Leclerc in complete control of the race.

Verstappen retired with another Red Bull failure whilst Sainz dropped out early on through a spin.

Perez finished second ahead of Mercedes' George Russell.

Drivers' standings after round three

1. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 71 Points

2. George Russell [Mercedes] - 37

3. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 33

4. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 30

5. Lewis Hamilton [Mercedes] - 28

Constructors' standings after round three

1. Ferrari - 104 Points

2. Mercedes - 65

3. Red Bull Racing - 55

4. McLaren - 24

5. Alpine - 22

Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

The first sprint event of the year saw Leclerc narrowly edged out by Verstappen, who took the maximum eight points.

In the race itself, tricky conditions led to Sainz retiring again after a collision with Daniel Ricciardo. Verstappen topped a Red Bull one-two whilst Lando Norris completed the podium.

Hamilton finished a lap down in 13th as Mercedes' issues continued.

Drivers' standings after round four

1. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 86 Points

2. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 59

3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 54

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 49

5. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 38

Constructors' standings after round four

1. Ferrari - 124 Points

2. Red Bull Racing - 113

3. Mercedes - 77

4. McLaren - 46

5. Alfa Romeo - 25

Miami Grand Prix

The inaugural Miami Grand Prix was won by Verstappen who was forced to defend from Leclerc after a late-race safety car period for contact between Lando Norris and Pierre Gasly.

Sainz completed a double-podium for Ferrari, with Perez fourth and the two Mercedes cars fifth and sixth, with Russell ahead of Hamilton.

Drivers' standings after round five

1. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 104 Points

2. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 85

3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 66

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 59

5. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 53

Constructors' standings after round five

1. Ferrari - 157 Points

2. Red Bull Racing - 151

3. Mercedes - 95

4. McLaren - 46

5. Alfa Romeo - 31

Spanish Grand Prix

The first major raft of updates brought Mercedes back into the fight but it was still Ferrari and Red Bull to beat.

Leclerc was in a comfortable lead when a PU failure forced his retirement, allowing Verstappen an easy victory.

Perez finished ahead of Russell, who secured his first podium of the season in third.

Drivers' standings after round six

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 110 Points

2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 104

3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 85

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 74

5. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 65

Constructors' standings after round six

1. Red Bull Racing - 195 Points

2. Ferrari - 169

3. Mercedes - 120

4. McLaren - 50

5. Alfa Romeo - 39

Monaco Grand Prix

Ferrari's strategic failures from years gone by returned on the streets of the principality, costing Leclerc a win at his home race.

The Scuderia managed to turn a one-two into a two-four in tricky changeable conditions but Leclerc's loss was Perez's gain, with the Mexican taking his first win of the season.

Drivers' standings after round seven

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 125 Points

2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 116

3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 110

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 84

5. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 83

Constructors' standings after round seven

1. Red Bull Racing - 235 Points

2. Ferrari - 199

3. Mercedes - 134

4. McLaren - 59

5. Alfa Romeo - 41

Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Verstappen made up for the pain of 2021 with yet another win for Red Bull ahead of Perez, who was told not to fight his team-mate.

Leclerc suffered another power unit failure whilst leading, dealing a major blow to his title hopes, whilst Sainz also retired on a dark day for Ferrari.

F1's porpoising issues reared their head in ugly fashion as drivers called for changes for safety reasons.

Drivers' standings after round eight

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 150 Points

2. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 129

3. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 116

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 99

5. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 83

Constructors' standings after round eight

1. Red Bull Racing - 279 Points

2. Ferrari - 199

3. Mercedes - 161

4. McLaren - 65

5. Alpine - 47

Canadian Grand Prix

Sainz finally found form to fight Verstappen at the Circuit Giilles Villeneve as team-mate Leclerc took penalty pain for a new engine.

The Monégaque fought his way through the field to finish fifth as Perez retired with an issue for Red Bull.

Hamilton returned to the podium for the first time since the season opener.

Drivers' standings after round nine

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 175 Points

2. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 129

3. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 126

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 111

5. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 102

Constructors' standings after round nine

1. Red Bull Racing - 304 Points

2. Ferrari - 228

3. Mercedes - 188

4. McLaren - 65

5. Alpine - 57

British Grand Prix

A race for the ages at Silverstone as Sainz clinched his maiden F1 win from pole. The Spaniard had conceded the lead to Verstappen following an error but the Red Bull picked up floor damage and fell to seventh.

In a frantic final 10 laps, Ferrari strategy left Leclerc a sitting duck as Sainz cantered to victory, whilst Perez and Hamilton fought tooth and nail for the podium.

This was all after a frightening first corner incident that saw Zhou Guanyu flip upside down in his Alfa Romeo and trigger red flags.

For Haas, Mick Schumacher secured his first F1 points.

Drivers' standings after round ten

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 181 Points

2. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 147

3. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 138

4. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 127

5. George Russell [Mercedes] - 111

Constructors' standings after round ten

1. Red Bull Racing - 328 Points

2. Ferrari - 265

3. Mercedes - 204

4. McLaren - 73

5. Alpine - 67

Austrian Grand Prix

Leclerc secured a first win in eight races with a superb drive at the Red Bull Ring.

Verstappen had won the sprint for another eight points to his name but had no answer to his rival in the grand prix.

Sainz would have completed a Ferrari one-two had it not been for a spectacular PU failure late in the race, gifting Hamilton another podium for a resurgent Mercedes.

Drivers' standings after round 11

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 208 Points

2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 170

3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 151

4. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 133

5. George Russell [Mercedes] - 128

Constructors' standings after round 11

1. Red Bull Racing - 359 Points

2. Ferrari - 303

3. Mercedes - 237

4. McLaren - 81

5. Alpine - 81

French Grand Prix

Leclerc looked set to continue his form with a commanding lead early on at Paul Ricard, with Ferrari seemingly on top when it came to tyre management.

But pushing after Verstappen had triggered the first pit stop window, Leclerc lost control of his car and crashed out at Le Beausset, gifting victory to his rival.

Mercedes' fortunes took a turn for the better with a double podium, led by Hamilton.

Drivers' standings after round 12

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 233 Points

2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 170

3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 163

4. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 144

5. George Russell [Mercedes] - 143

Constructors' standings after round 12

1. Red Bull Racing - 396 Points

2. Ferrari - 314

3. Mercedes - 270

4. Alpine - 93

5. McLaren - 89

Hungarian Grand Prix

Russell stunned Ferrari with a maiden pole position at the Hungaroring and surged into the lead, though Leclerc put his superior pace to use with a move for the lead on lap 31.

With Verstappen starting 10th due to a qualifying PU issue, the win looked to be sewn up for Leclerc, only for Ferrari to mesmerise again with its strategy, switching to the unfancied hard tyres and dropping the Monégasque to sixth.

Verstappen would charge past both Mercedes drivers and Sainz through strategy and outright pace to take another win, whilst Hamilton again led a double podium for the Silver Arrows.

Drivers' standings after round 13

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 258 Points

2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 178

3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 173

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 158

5. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 156

Constructors' standings after round 13

1. Red Bull Racing - 431 Points

2. Ferrari - 334

3. Mercedes - 304

4. Alpine - 99

5. McLaren - 95