
Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.
A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.
Latest articles by Alex Kalinauckas
Spanish GP: Leclerc heads Ferrari 1-2 in opening practice
Charles Leclerc led a Ferrari 1-2 in first practice for Formula 1's 2022 Spanish Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen third but losing time on his quickest run after encountering traffic.
Alonso slams "incompetent" Miami F1 stewards after penalty
Fernando Alonso has explosively accused the Formula 1 stewards at the recent Miami Grand Prix of “incompetence” and sees no improvement in the championship’s officiating despite the FIA’s post-2021 changes.
Why the lack of "needle" between Red Bull and Ferrari is a mirage
OPINION: The fight for the 2022 Formula 1 world titles between Red Bull and Ferrari so far features little of the public animosity that developed between the former and Mercedes last year. But that isn’t to say things are full on friendly or won’t get much worse very quickly…
The silver lining of Ferrari’s Miami GP defeat
OPINION: Much was made of Formula 1’s first Miami Grand Prix – what turned out to be a very ‘marmite’ event for both those in attendance and everyone following on TV. But even as the on-track battle between Red Bull and Ferrari it produced continued the negative run of results for the red team, it contained a glimmer it must hope continues to shine
Miami Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
Formula 1's eagerly-anticipated debut in Miami was the scene for the latest bout for victory between Red Bull and Ferrari. But there was plenty of intrigue up and down the field at F1's newest race, including another stirring drive from a 2022 returnee
The late danger that could have cost Verstappen Miami GP victory
Max Verstappen secured his third win of the 2022 Formula 1 season in Miami after again beating early leader Charles Leclerc. But unlike their Jeddah duel in which the result was the same, the Red Bull driver this time had to stave off a late restart challenge that offered Leclerc an opportunity to turn the tables
Miami GP: Verstappen holds off Leclerc to win after late SC
Max Verstappen beat Charles Leclerc to victory in Formula 1's first Miami Grand Prix, winning after passing on track early on and then defying considerable pressure after a late safety car.
F1 drivers have asked FIA to clean Miami's first corner
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz says the Formula 1 drivers have petitioned the FIA to clean the Miami Grand Prix track's first corner to reduce the risk of a start crash.
Leclerc fears keeping Red Bull behind in Miami F1 will be "difficult"
Charles Leclerc fears if Max Verstappen gets close behind in Formula 1’s first Miami Grand Prix it will be “very difficult” to stay ahead given Red Bull’s superior straight-line speed.
Miami GP: Leclerc leads all-Ferrari front row ahead of Verstappen
Charles Leclerc led a Ferrari 1-2 in Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix qualifying ahead of Carlos Sainz, while a last-lap mistake meant Max Verstappen dropped from provisional pole to third.
Miami GP: Perez outpaces Leclerc in FP3 as Mercedes struggles
Sergio Perez headed final practice for Formula 1's first Miami Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, while Esteban Ocon crashed his Alpine.
Why Mercedes' practice pace doesn't harm Red Bull's favourite tag
Mercedes appears revitalised as George Russell topped the practice times on the first day of track running at the new Miami International Autodrome, while both Ferrari and Red Bull hit trouble. Despite this, Red Bull still holds an advantage to worry its rivals.
Miami GP: Russell puts Mercedes on top in FP2
Mercedes’ George Russell topped a heavily disrupted second practice for Formula 1’s inaugural Miami Grand Prix, leading Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc while reliability dramas prevented Max Verstappen setting a time.
Why Miami is a central chapter of F1 2022's biggest storyline
OPINION: Formula 1’s most-anticipated new event for a decade is finally happening with the first Miami Grand Prix. But when predicting which of Ferrari or Red Bull might prevail in the latest title fight battle, assessing the changes made since a similar race at the start of 2022 provides the key clues
What Russell's current Mercedes form means for his F1 future
OPINION: It would not have taken much for Mercedes to have had a very different weekend at Imola, even if a podium was always out of reach. As it was, George Russell led the line for the Silver Arrows, far ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Here’s how he got there and why such troubled times may benefit both team and younger driver in the years to come
Ten things we learned from the 2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Formula 1's world tour returned for its first European leg in 2022 with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, also the first sprint race of the year. Red Bull's Max Verstappen produced a near-perfect weekend as Ferrari and Charles Leclerc stumbled, while there were talking points aplenty in the paddock. Here are the 10 things we learned at Imola
Russell broke F1 floor stay due to Mercedes porpoising in Imola FP1
Toto Wolff says Mercedes’ porpoising problem during first practice for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was so severe that a floor stay broke on George Russell’s Formula 1 car.
Vettel suggests F1 future depends on Aston Martin's progress
Sebastian Vettel says his Formula 1 future with Aston Martin hinges on how he and the team respond to "the mountain ahead of us" in trying to improve the AMR22 car.
Emilia Romagna GP: Leclerc leads Sainz in wet first F1 practice
Charles Leclerc led a Ferrari 1-2 in a wet first practice session for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen third but 1.4 seconds slower than the championship leader.
Sainz surprised he "lacked calmness" amid Australian F1 woe
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz says he “lacked calmness to react properly” to the various issues that blighted his 2022 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, which he called a “character-building weekend”.
Sainz 'laughed' at rumours of friction over new Ferrari F1 deal
Carlos Sainz says speculation that he and Ferrari were suddenly struggling to agree terms for his new Formula 1 contract left him "laughing at home".
Williams latest F1 team to tweak livery to save weight
Williams says a tweaked livery it introduced in Australia was the result of a weight-saving push it is making with its FW44 Formula 1 car.
The ongoing problem with F1 sprints that's worse for 2022
OPINION: Formula 1’s sprint race weekend format returns with the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The championship deemed its 2021 experiments to be so successful it wanted double for 2022 before team cost arguments scuppered the plan. But one change that has been made for the next three sprints makes them even more controversial
The Verstappen path Leclerc seems to be following in F1 2022
OPINION: Charles Leclerc insists he has not made a step up in his Formula 1 performances from 2021 into his early domination of 2022. But he does admit to there being one key difference compared to his past at Ferrari, which comes with striking similarity to the life of his closest on-track rival so far this year
Australian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
Formula 1's long-awaited return to Melbourne delivered an intriguing race on a track rather different than the one teams had last raced at in 2019. Among several standout performances, two drivers earned maximum scores in our driver ratings
How Ferrari and Red Bull calls led to Leclerc’s Melbourne masterclass
A second retirement in three races for Max Verstappen in the Australian Grand Prix leaves the Red Bull ace already facing an uphill battle to get himself back into the title fight. But there were several factors which contributed to the team's disappointing weekend - and they were ones Ferrari got right as Charles Leclerc romped to victory
Leclerc "couldn't turn" before poor Australian GP F1 restart
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc explained picking up old rubber before the final corner was behind the poor safety car restart that almost cost him the lead of Formula 1's Australian Grand Prix.
Russell: F1 pace would have "fallen off a cliff" trying to fight Perez
George Russell thinks his pace would have "fallen off a cliff" if he'd tried fighting Sergio Perez before "cruising" to score his first Formula 1 podium with Mercedes in Australia.
FIA shuts down Verstappen F1 safety car restart tactics
The FIA has clarified Formula 1’s safety car restart rules to prevent drivers employing tactics including the side-by-side move Max Verstappen has used against Charles Leclerc twice in 2022.
Leclerc "couldn't see anything" due to sun in Melbourne qualifying
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc had "zero idea where the limit of the track was" due to the setting sun late in the disrupted Melbourne Formula 1 qualifying, where he grabbed pole.
Australian GP: Leclerc beats Verstappen and Perez to pole
Charles Leclerc beat Max Verstappen to pole position in qualifying for Formula 1's 2022 Australian Grand Prix, which was heavily disrupted by red flags stemming from two big crashes.
FIA removes one F1 DRS zone at Albert Park on safety grounds
The FIA has removed one of the four DRS zones from the Albert Park layout for Formula 1’s 2022 Australian Grand Prix, with the move made on safety grounds.
Why Australian GP is set for another Red Bull vs Ferrari showdown
As in Jeddah, Ferrari swept both practice sessions on Friday in Melbourne. But Max Verstappen and Red Bull looked strong on race pace long runs and, with four DRS zones in play, F1's Albert Park return could produce a similarly enthralling battle to the one seen last time out between the two teams in Jeddah
Russell: Mercedes cannot afford “trial and error” approach to fix W13
George Russell says Mercedes’ lack of updates for the 2022 Australian Grand Prix is because the team cannot afford a “trial and error” approach to fixing its W13 Formula 1 car.
The domino effect causing Mercedes' current F1 problems
Mercedes has started this year as it did last year – on the back foot. But the problems now are more serious, with only the third-fastest car unable as yet to challenge the Red Bull and Ferrari on pace. So what next for the Silver Arrows? Here's how its planning to turn its "ambitious" W13 into a race winner
F1 drivers issued jewellery ban reminder by FIA in Australia
The FIA has reminded the Formula 1 field ahead of the 2022 Australian Grand Prix that wearing jewellery when driving their cars in on-track sessions is banned.
The best way F1 can pay back Melbourne after 2020's aborted start
OPINION: Formula 1 is heading to a reconciling moment with this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix – the first since 2019 and two years on from the awful saga of the aborted 2020 race. It should be a moment of celebration and recognition for the championship’s supporters
Is Verstappen really racing Leclerc differently to Hamilton?
OPINION: Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc have engaged in two thrilling wheel-to-wheel scraps from the opening two 2022 Formula 1 races. Those haven’t ended in controversy, which has raised a question over how their rivalry compares to Verstappen’s against Lewis Hamilton in 2021
Ten things we learned from the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
The 2022 Formula 1 season continued with another action-packed grand prix in Jeddah. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc went toe-to-toe with world champion Max Verstappen and had to concede defeat to the Red Bull driver, but a serious crash and an oil refinery attack nearby the track marred the weekend. Here are the 10 things we learned from the Saudi Arabian GP
Saudi Arabian GP: Leclerc leads Verstappen in first practice
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc beat Max Verstappen to first place in FP1 for Formula 1's 2022 Saudian Arabian GP, where the latter did not complete a flying lap on the softest tyres.
Verstappen: Drive to Survive editing made Norris "look like a dick"
Max Verstappen has again blasted the accuracy of Netflix Formula 1 documentary ‘Drive to Survive’ as “not correct”, highlighting scenes that make Lando Norris look “a bit of a dick”.
Why classic F1 tracks like Spa and Silverstone shouldn't be at risk
OPINION: As Formula 1’s latest season gets under way, it may still turn out to be its longest-ever. But recent comments from CEO Stefano Domenicali suggest major calendar change is coming, with famous venues not guaranteed places. Here’s why that would be a mistake, especially when there’s a neat solution for F1’s business minded owner.
Albon: F1 safety car unlapping rules may need further review
Williams driver Alex Albon thinks Formula 1's safety car rules might need to be reviewed again after the Bahrain Grand Prix, in which the race was restarted before unlapped cars caught up to the back of the pack.
What the Bahrain GP battles taught F1 about the impact of its new era
OPINION: Formula 1’s long-awaited new car formula made its race debut in last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix. There were good signs it may achieve its key aims, but those came alongside issues causing for alarm for some of the championship’s big players.
Leclerc joked with Ferrari F1 pits about last lap engine problem
Bahrain Grand Prix winner Charles Leclerc played a last-lap joke on his Ferrari Formula 1 engineers that he had been hit by an unexpected engine problem.
2022 Bahrain Grand Prix Driver Ratings
The opening round of the 2022 Formula 1 season means the first Driver Ratings of the year. The Bahrain Grand Prix provided the opportunity for a handful of star drivers to shine, even if some were denied the results their performances deserved, while others failed to make it count when it mattered most
The unseen Verstappen problem that ensured Leclerc's Bahrain GP win
Max Verstappen’s fight for victory in the opening race of Formula 1’s new era and his first as defending world champion was ultimately ended by a fuel pump problem, although an unseen mechanical woe became key to him losing out to Charles Leclerc at the Bahrain Grand Prix
Leclerc explains F1 tactics for beating Verstappen in Bahrain GP battles
Charles Leclerc has revealed his tactics to keep Max Verstappen behind during the Bahrain Grand Prix which launched his victory charge at the 2022 Formula 1 opener.
Bahrain GP: Leclerc leads Ferrari 1-2; Red Bull implodes
Charles Leclerc led a Ferrari 1-2 in Formula 1's 2022 Bahrain season opener, having beaten Max Verstappen in a thrilling race-long battle before Red Bull suffered a late double DNF.
Leclerc: Haas, Alfa in Q3 shows Ferrari F1 engine progress
Charles Leclerc says the high Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying results scored by Alfa Romeo and Haas highlights the “strong” step Ferrari has made with its Formula 1 engine for 2022.
Bahrain GP: Leclerc beats Verstappen to first pole of F1 2022
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc beat Red Bull driver Max Verstappen to pole position for Formula 1's 2022 season opener in Bahrain by 0.123 seconds.
FIA explains how VAR system will work in F1
The FIA has explained how Formula 1’s equivalent of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) will work, as well as revealing that it will now be called the Remote Operations Centre.
The times that put Red Bull in a league of its own so far in Bahrain
On the final day when Formula 1 teams attempt to disguise true performance levels from rivals ahead of the sessions that truly count, Red Bull moved into a class above the rest. Its pace compared to the competition looks set to give it a major advantage at the 2022 opener in Bahrain...
Bahrain GP: Verstappen leads Ferrari duo in FP2
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen set the fastest time in second practice for the 2022 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, leading Ferrari's Charles Leclerc by 0.087 seconds.
Hamilton vows to be a more aggressive driver in F1 2022
Lewis Hamilton has vowed to be "a more aggressive driver" in the 2022 Formula 1 season, following his controversial battles with Max Verstappen in last year's championship.
What Hulkenberg's past super-sub F1 results suggest about his chances
Now heading to Bahrain to unexpectedly start the 2022 Formula 1 season opener for Aston Martin in place of Sebastian Vettel, Nico Hulkenberg has a lot to live up to.
Verstappen: F1 doesn't need to see full FIA report into Abu Dhabi
Max Verstappen says Formula 1 does not need to see the FIA's full report into the 2021 Abu Dhabi controversy, but hopes the championship can improve procedures using its findings.
FIA explains laser scanning system for F1 scrutineering
The FIA has outlined the new laser scanning scrutineering system it will use to examine the legality of Formula 1 cars from the start of the 2022 season.
The surprising F1 first race win trend its new era may alter
OPINION: Formula 1 is about to embark on the first race of its eagerly anticipated new era. Every team is talking the rest up, but only one can be the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix victor and very likely set the tone for the championship’s coming campaign.
How McLaren’s eye-catching start stalled at the Bahrain test
After an impressive showing at Barcelona, McLaren’s fortunes took a hit with a stop-start Bahrain test hit by front brake woe and Daniel Ricciardo sidelined having tested positive for COVID-19. While it goes into the opener on the backfoot with fixes to find, the Woking team still appears set to be a contender at the front