F1 correspondent Adam Hay-Nicholls looks at the highs, lows and defining moments of the 2022 season.
Driver of the year: Max Verstappen
It couldn’t really be anyone else. The 25-year-old Red Bull driver won an unprecedented 15 grands prix from 22 rounds, took two wins from three sprint races, posted seven pole positions and registered five fastest laps, beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to the world title by 146 points.
Max’s first triumph and the circumstances in which he won it from Lewis Hamilton mean 2021 will always have an asterisk next to it, but no one could argue he wasn’t the clear winner in 2022. In fact, he sealed it with four races to spare.
Team of the year: Red Bull Racing
Their questionable bookkeeping notwithstanding (and let’s wait and see if they overspent on their budget cap in 2022 too), Red Bull wiped the field with 17 victories including five one-twos.
A double-DNF at the season opener in Bahrain and sensational early races from Ferrari suggested it might be a tough year for the Milton Keynes sluggers, but they were electric once the calendar returned to Europe and rarely put a foot wrong. They were on every podium bar Bahrain and Sao Paulo, and from France onwards only lost one race.
Most improved team: Alfa Romeo
In 2021, Alfa Romeo scored just 13 points and were beaten by everyone bar Haas. This year, they got 55 points, finishing the season sixth out of ten teams, ahead of Aston Martin.
Sixth places in Bahrain and Barcelona and P5 in qualifying in Miami for Valtteri Bottas were highlights, and while the second half of the year was more of a struggle, it was confirmed last month the team will become Audi from 2026, with all the expectation that comes from a manufacturer that has won Le Mans 13 times.
Biggest disappointment: Ferrari
It was announced yesterday Mattia Binotto is to step down after four seasons as team principal and 28 years with the Scuderia. This upheaval may have a negative consequence for next year as a new boss – rumoured to be Alfa Romeo’s Frederic Vasseur – gets to grips.
The view was there had been too many dropped balls in 2022, and the buck stopped with Binotto. Ferrari had the fastest car, yet kept snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, either through tyre and pitstop cock-ups, power-unit failures or driver errors. Red Bull should not have had it as easy as they did.
Biggest crash: Zhou Guanyu, Silverstone
At the start of the British Grand Prix, Zhou Guanyu became the fourth F1 driver to have his life saved by the Halo cockpit protection that was introduced in 2018.
Starting in ninth place, he was on the far left of the track as Pierre Gasly attempted to glide between his Alfa Romeo and George Russell’s Mercedes. Russell closed the door, clipped the AlphaTauri and then smashed into the side of Zhou.
The Alfa Romeo flipped over as it raced down the straight, sparks flying as the roll-hoop was destroyed (the force double that of the FIA crash test requirement), and then bounced across the gravel trap.
Such was the energy, Zhou’s car somersaulted over the top of the barrier and landed on its side between the tyre wall and the catch fencing. Fortunately, the Chinese driver was completely unhurt and so were Silverstone’s spectators.
Most unexpected pole position: Kevin Magnussen, Sao Paulo
Kevin Magnussen was called up at the last minute to race for Haas, the team having ditched him in favour of paying drivers for 2021.
Nikita Mazepin’s exit due to his Russian passport this year meant K-Mag was resurrected and in Brazil he shocked everyone by taking pole position in mixed conditions in a car that would rarely normally get him through to Q3.
The red flag helped, triggered by an off by Russell, but it was a brilliant lap nonetheless and his American-owned team could not believe it.
Biggest controversy: Red Bull’s overspend
A budget cap was introduced last year to prevent teams spending more than £114million. Red Bull, it transpired, overspent by a reported £1.8m, though the details haven’t been revealed by the FIA.
The team said much of this went on catering costs but many claim it explains Red Bull’s exhaustive car development. Having admitted guilt, the team were fined £5.8m and have lost ten per cent of their wind tunnel allowance next year.
Best newcomer: Miami
There was only one rookie on the grid this year – Guanyu. China’s first F1 driver did a solid job but I am giving the newcomer award to Miami.
It wasn’t a scintillating race but the fake marina, the parties, the sheer scale of the operation was unlike anything the sport has seen before. Expect Las Vegas to go even bigger next year.
Best overtake: Charles Leclerc, Spielberg
On lap ten of the Austrian GP Leclerc pulled a brilliant move down the inside of turn three under heavy and perfectly timed braking. Somehow, though, Verstappen found enough grid on the outside to keep the Ferrari at bay.
Two laps later, Leclerc did the same thing and this time he made it stick. It would be his third and final win of the season.
Best race: British Grand Prix
Silverstone served up a thriller as Carlos Sainz Jr took his first grand-prix victory in style. There were battles throughout the field. Leclerc went wheel-to-wheel with Sergio Perez, and as they did so Hamilton blasted through into second place to the roar of the grandstands.
Five cars were separated by about 20 metres in the final five laps as they battled for the runners-up spot. In the end, Perez finished in second place, with Hamilton, Leclerc, Fernando Alonso and Lando Norris all crossing the line close behind.
Hardest goodbye: Sebastian Vettel
After 15 years, 53 grands prix victories, 57 pole positions and four world championships Sebastian Vettel is retiring to spend more time with his family. Aged 35, he is the fourth most successful F1 driver of all time.
History will remember the dominance of the Red Bull years and his 14 wins for Ferrari. Since 2019, he has been in decline, seeing out his last two years at Aston Martin. He was 12th in the standings this year but on his day was still a terrific driver.
F1 will miss him, and so will a legion of fans which seems to have grown since he dropped off the podium. Mostly he will be missed for his intelligence, empathy and sense of humour.
MORE : Daniel Ricciardo returns to Red Bull as reserve driver for 2023
MORE : Abu Dhabi summed up the season – Max Verstappen flew as Lewis Hamilton toiled
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Share your story or advertise with us: Whatsapp: +2347068606071 Email: info@newspotng.com
