Formula 1 is back in action this weekend for the first race of the 2022 season, as the teams take their new-look cars to the Bahrain International Circuit.
An exciting 2021 season that was decided on the last lap of the last race is still fresh on many of our minds, but it’s nearly time to see our favourite F1 drivers on track again.
The 2022 season will start this weekend, as the teams debut a fresh field of cars compliant with revised regulations for this season. Pre-season testing, while it can’t be taken as an exact indicator of how the teams will rank, does seem to indicate that there won’t be a sea change in the rankings of the teams versus last season.
Mercedes, the reigning constructors' champions, have already drawn the ire of other teams with their ultra slim side-pods on the W13. Ferrari has taken a very different approach and equipped their F1-75 with very wide side pods. The differences in car design should make for an interesting mix of strengths and weaknesses between the teams.
The favourite entering this season is Max Verstappen and Red Bull, with many sports writers expecting Verstappen to repeat as driver’s champion, and for Red Bull to upset the eight straight constructor’s championships of Mercedes. Sergio Perez’ season was overshadowed by the 1-2 battle between Hamilton and Verstappen in 2021, but he should prove to be a strong teammate for Verstappen and help secure victory for the team’s (now literal) number one driver.
Mercedes has a history of underperforming in practices, so it remains to be seen whether the Silver Arrows can return to championship form with their newest car that performed underwhelmingly in pre-season testing. Lewis Hamilton remained silent through much of the offseason but has since returned to the spotlight and will be hungry to reclaim the top spot in F1. George Russell will be replacing Hamilton’s former teammate Valtteri Bottas this season, after being called up from Williams.
The strong 2021 showings of Ferrari and McLaren, whose battle throughout the 2021 season saw the teams swapping places in the ranking several times, could foreshadow a 2022 season that sees either or both teams contending with the powerhouse Red Bull and Mercedes teams. The returning rosters of Charles Leclerc with Carlos Sainz, and Lando Norris with Daniel Ricciardo are all potential race-winners, so these teams are poised for elevated success this year.
Mid-pack, Apline, Aston Martin and AlphaTauri all retain their driver roster from last season and should be battling with each other for championship points. Veterans Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel will both be looking to impress fans a few more times as they draw nearer to retirement. Their respective teammates, Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll, have each demonstrated their potential in recent years and will be trying to glean knowledge from the veterans while they can. AlphaTauri's pairing of Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda is potentially a formidable one, with Gasly having a win to his name and Tsunoda showing good pace but signs of rookie jitters last season.
Williams, Alfa Romeo and Haas round out the lineup of teams. Williams will be without George Russell this season after his move to the Mercedes team, and he will be replaced by returning driver Alexander Albon. Alfa Romeo’s new driver lineup includes rookie driver Zhou Guanyu and veteran Valtteri Bottas, who will need to adjust to driving a non-contending car after years at Mercedes where he scored 10 wins. Kevin Magnussen returns to the Formula 1 grid this season to drive for Haas, and he will drive alongside teammate Mick Schumacher.
With 0 points on the board for any team or driver, we want to hear your predictions for this race and this season in general. Will this be a two-horse race again between Red Bull and Mercedes, or will another team enter the battle? Likewise, will we see Hamilton and Verstappen separating themselves from the rest of the pack, or will someone else emerge as a contender? Let us know in the comments below.
An exciting 2021 season that was decided on the last lap of the last race is still fresh on many of our minds, but it’s nearly time to see our favourite F1 drivers on track again.
The 2022 season will start this weekend, as the teams debut a fresh field of cars compliant with revised regulations for this season. Pre-season testing, while it can’t be taken as an exact indicator of how the teams will rank, does seem to indicate that there won’t be a sea change in the rankings of the teams versus last season.
Mercedes, the reigning constructors' champions, have already drawn the ire of other teams with their ultra slim side-pods on the W13. Ferrari has taken a very different approach and equipped their F1-75 with very wide side pods. The differences in car design should make for an interesting mix of strengths and weaknesses between the teams.
The favourite entering this season is Max Verstappen and Red Bull, with many sports writers expecting Verstappen to repeat as driver’s champion, and for Red Bull to upset the eight straight constructor’s championships of Mercedes. Sergio Perez’ season was overshadowed by the 1-2 battle between Hamilton and Verstappen in 2021, but he should prove to be a strong teammate for Verstappen and help secure victory for the team’s (now literal) number one driver.
Mercedes has a history of underperforming in practices, so it remains to be seen whether the Silver Arrows can return to championship form with their newest car that performed underwhelmingly in pre-season testing. Lewis Hamilton remained silent through much of the offseason but has since returned to the spotlight and will be hungry to reclaim the top spot in F1. George Russell will be replacing Hamilton’s former teammate Valtteri Bottas this season, after being called up from Williams.
The strong 2021 showings of Ferrari and McLaren, whose battle throughout the 2021 season saw the teams swapping places in the ranking several times, could foreshadow a 2022 season that sees either or both teams contending with the powerhouse Red Bull and Mercedes teams. The returning rosters of Charles Leclerc with Carlos Sainz, and Lando Norris with Daniel Ricciardo are all potential race-winners, so these teams are poised for elevated success this year.
Mid-pack, Apline, Aston Martin and AlphaTauri all retain their driver roster from last season and should be battling with each other for championship points. Veterans Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel will both be looking to impress fans a few more times as they draw nearer to retirement. Their respective teammates, Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll, have each demonstrated their potential in recent years and will be trying to glean knowledge from the veterans while they can. AlphaTauri's pairing of Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda is potentially a formidable one, with Gasly having a win to his name and Tsunoda showing good pace but signs of rookie jitters last season.
Williams, Alfa Romeo and Haas round out the lineup of teams. Williams will be without George Russell this season after his move to the Mercedes team, and he will be replaced by returning driver Alexander Albon. Alfa Romeo’s new driver lineup includes rookie driver Zhou Guanyu and veteran Valtteri Bottas, who will need to adjust to driving a non-contending car after years at Mercedes where he scored 10 wins. Kevin Magnussen returns to the Formula 1 grid this season to drive for Haas, and he will drive alongside teammate Mick Schumacher.
With 0 points on the board for any team or driver, we want to hear your predictions for this race and this season in general. Will this be a two-horse race again between Red Bull and Mercedes, or will another team enter the battle? Likewise, will we see Hamilton and Verstappen separating themselves from the rest of the pack, or will someone else emerge as a contender? Let us know in the comments below.
- Next page: Free Practice 1 | Bahrain GP
