The reigning Drivers' Champion, Max Verstappen, won his second title at the Japanese Grand Prix, while Red Bull Racing won their fifth World Constructor Championship.
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The 2022 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 73rd running of the Formula One World Championship, and was held in the United Kingdom. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body of international motorsport, recognises it as the highest level of competition for open-wheel racing cars. The championship was held over twenty-two Grands Prix held around the world, and it ended earlier than in previous years to avoid conflict with the FIFA World Cup.
The reigning Drivers’ Champion, Max Verstappen, won his second title at the Japanese Grand Prix, while Red Bull Racing won their fifth World Constructor Championship, and first since 2013, at the following United States Grand Prix. Mercedes was the current Constructors’ Champion. Sebastian Vettel, the four-time World Champion, was in his final season. Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time World Champion, had a difficult season with Mercedes, failing to secure either a pole position or a Grand Prix win, the first time either occurrence had occurred in his Formula One career since it began in 2007.
Here is a look at how the drivers performed in the 2022 F1 season
A record-breaking season in so many areas, a second World Championship, and, quite frankly, one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory. Showed versatility in a variety of conditions, winning races from the back of the grid. Even if Verstappen and Red Bull had a PR nightmare in Brazil, where he actively avoided helping his teammate, that doesn’t detract from what has been an emphatic season for the Dutchman.
Checo Perez had a season full of highs and lows, including a career-first pole position, two wins, and nine podiums. However, he will ultimately be judged – fairly or unfairly – against a teammate in the same car, and the gap between Checo and Verstappen was visible at almost every circuit. If he can transfer some of his form from the street circuits of Monaco and Singapore to longer, flowing tracks elsewhere, he could still challenge for the World Championship. But you get the impression that as long as he’s on the same team as Verstappen, he’ll struggle to break out of his teammate’s shadow.
It’s been a long time since an F1 driver’s championship was won without Lewis Hamilton. Back in Abu Dhabi 2021, fans and pundits alike were wondering what kind of desire and drive the seven-time world champion would have this time. To that extent, Hamilton emphatically responded to his detractors. In a car that was only in contention for fifth place for the majority of the year, he knuckled down and, more often than not, extracted the maximum possible out of the car. A run of bad luck early in the season put him behind his new teammate in the points standings, but his racing since the mid-season break has been majestic at times.
The younger Britishman hardly put a foot wrong in what was his most important season to date. Early season car limitations cost him a chance to be right in the mix for second place in the championship, but keeping Hamilton honest all year was a testament to his talent. Only a few hiccups in his wheel-to-wheel racing, which should smooth out over time. If the off-season at the factory goes well, 2023 could be a legitimate title contender.
Charles Leclerc could win a world championship with Ferrari in the coming years, but this season has shown that the team, not the Monagasque driver, needs to improve. This season, he has been far from faultless, with Barcelona and France being two obvious examples. However, had Ferrari shown even a smidgeon more composure at times, Leclerc should have already clinched second place in the Championship with a few races to spare, and it was somewhat fitting that he drove flawlessly to secure that spot in the season’s final race. Overall, another step forward in his career, and he remains one of the fastest one-lap drivers.
In many ways, a similar season review for Sergio Perez could be applied to Sainz, but the Spaniard was too far behind teammate Leclerc at times to merit a higher grade. With his race craft, he has shown glimpses of enormous potential, and on his day, he has the ability to beat the rest of the paddock. However, it appeared to be slower than the other contenders. Despite a maiden victory for Sainz, Ferrari should have had second place in the championship locked up well before the final race of the season.
Given McLaren’s all-too-obvious woes for the majority of the year (a few tracks aside), he’s done an incredible job of staying in the mix for ‘best of the rest.’ Daniel Ricciardo’s struggles in the same car only serve to highlight Norris’ credentials as a potential Championship-winning driver in the coming years.
Fans of Alonso have had a bittersweet season. On the plus side, he still wants to race and his talent is undeniably still there. The season ended up being a letdown due to a combination of driver errors and engine reliability. It looked like a formidable pairing on a day when the Alpine was tuned up and Alonso was on song. However, as the season progressed, his ability to truly challenge the front-runners dwindled, with their head-to-head against McLaren becoming the primary goal. To that end, the veteran has contributed with a crucial point total. Like Hamilton, his grade has suffered as a result of previously set very high standards, and in Alonso’s case, far too many retirements.
Magnussen’s season began with him being parachuted into the team after more than a year away from an F1 car, and he nailed his job more often than not. The season will undoubtedly be remembered for that historic, and frankly unbelievable, pole position in Brazil. He was the team leader Haas required; it was just too bad his teammate couldn’t match the veteran. Overly aggressive racecraft cost the Dane at times, and he was also guilty of disappearing to the back of the field at some Grand Prix, including Abu Dhabi. If the car can deliver, there is still room for improvement in 2023.
The Mercedes veteran was always known for being a great qualifier, but his wheel-to-wheel combat was a source of concern. He’s shown the guile to mix it up on a Sunday in Alfa Romeo, a firm mid-lower-field team, and has led the team brilliantly. It’s a shame for him and the team that the car’s performance plummeted as the season progressed, and they weren’t able to capitalise on their early promise.
