Who is your 2022 F1 Driver of the Year?

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Who is Your 2022 F1 Driver of the Year?


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The 2022 Formula One season is behind us and want to hear your pick or picks for which driver impressed you the most this year.

The revised Formula 1 regulations entering the 2022 season were intended to allow cars to follow closer and encourage more competition between the cars and teams after an eight-year reign by Mercedes. And while the cars certainly had improved ability to follow closely, the leveling of the competition was harder to spot.

An early season push from Ferrari quickly fizzled out, and the Red Bull cars led by Max Verstappen cruised to one of the most dominant seasons in F1 history. Despite this, there were impressive performances throughout the season from Verstappen and many other drivers. We want to hear from you who impressed you the most. Here are some ideas:

Max Verstappen – The obvious choice; Verstappen became the first driver in F1 history to achieve 14 wins in a season. Verstappen’s presence on the podium in 2022 seemed a foregone conclusion entering nearly every race, regardless of track type or weather. Verstappen now has two drivers’ championships to his name and looked unstoppable all season long.

George Russell – Russell would have had countless valid excuses if he had performed far worse in his first season at Mercedes than he did. Few people expected #63 to match his teammate, who happens to be the winningest driver in F1 history, but at the time of this writing Russell is ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the standings. This season included Russell earning his first victory and proving he belongs at one of the premier teams in the sport.

Lando Norris – Like Russell, Norris outperformed a teammate with a greater career win total. The disparity in pace between Norris and teammate Daniel Ricciardo in 2022 makes it difficult to assess the potential pace of their McLaren. Was Norris driving the wheels off a car that had no business in the top eight? Or was Ricciardo underperforming in an upper-mid tier car? The answer is likely somewhere in between, but undoubtedly Norris looked great, and even split the top teams in the standings through much of the early season.

Kevin Magnussen - Before the 2022 season started, K-Mag didn't even have a seat in F1. Fate intervened, and Magnussen ended up as the full-time teammate of Mick Schumacher at Haas. His 25 points so far in 2022 exceeds the expectations of most F1 fans coming into the season, and is double the current total of Schumacher. Magnussen also earned a pole position for the sprint race in Brazil.

Who is your driver of the year? One of the above? Someone else? Leave a comment below and be sure to vote in the poll.

Photo Credit: Williams Racing
About author
Mike Smith
I have been obsessed with sim racing and racing games since the 1980's. My first taste of live auto racing was in 1988, and I couldn't get enough ever since. Lead writer for RaceDepartment, and owner of SimRacing604 and its YouTube channel. Favourite sims include Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Automobilista 2, DiRT Rally 2 - On Twitter as @simracing604

Comments

Without a doubt Max. The man did not just take the championship, but took it by a mile. Not only did he break the record with most wins in 1 seaon (14 victories so far, and still a race to come), but he also did that starting from even as far back as 14th on the grid. Noone even came close to what he achieved this season. And it is not "just the car" that makes him so quick. If that was the case, then Perez would have been solid 2nd in the championship. That shows that it is the driver that makes the difference here.

Of course there are other drivers that showed some impressive skills like Alonso last GP, but there's only 1 man who showed that throughout the whole season.
 
Without a doubt Max. The man did not just take the championship, but took it by a mile. Not only did he break the record with most wins in 1 seaon (14 victories so far, and still a race to come), but he also did that starting from even as far back as 14th on the grid. Noone even came close to what he achieved this season. And it is not "just the car" that makes him so quick. If that was the case, then Perez would have been solid 2nd in the championship. That shows that it is the driver that makes the difference here.

Of course there are other drivers that showed some impressive skills like Alonso last GP, but there's only 1 man who showed that throughout the whole season.
Max wouldn't have won any title without Perez's help and besides, he's a spoiled kid who doesn't know a thing about teamwork, only exalts it when it's convenient for him. Russell really deserves, not this arrogant Dutchman, who is very reminiscent of kindergarten children, who want everything without giving anything, otherwise they will whine.
 
Premium
Max wouldn't have won any title without Perez's help
I don't hink Perez was involved too much in Verstappen's title this season.

To the thread, my personal driver of the year is Seb, not because he was somewhere up front, but because he seemed to consistently have fun and enjoy his time racing most out of all drivers. He actually grew a likable personality over the years.
 
I would rather give Driver of the Year title to a driver who has done more with his machinery than he should have. Since the hybrid era began, many fans insisted Lewis Hamilton was at the top because his car was at the top. He only had to defeat Nico or Valtteri most seasons. Now that Red Bull have the best car, should it have been expected that Max or Sergio would have won the title? I think so.

Many races we hear drivers lower down the grid claim "that felt like a win", and it's because they didn't believe their car could win the race, but they managed to extract everything out of what they had. I've heard it from Lando, Pierre, and several others.
 
Max wouldn't have won any title without Perez's help and besides, he's a spoiled kid who doesn't know a thing about teamwork, only exalts it when it's convenient for him. Russell really deserves, not this arrogant Dutchman, who is very reminiscent of kindergarten children, who want everything without giving anything, otherwise they will whine.
This year? Seems like Perez has been competent but Max has not needed any help this year. Last year, at Abu Dabi, folks seem to forget that AFTER Checo held Hamilton up, the Silver car still drove away from the Red Bull. Max had no answer with or without Checo until his team made the correct call for new tires when Mercedes stayed out...(twice!) With the Merc super engine installed, Lewis could have given up track position and still run Max down with ease. His team's fear of giving up the lead led to the disaster at the end.
 
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Max wouldn't have won any title without Perez's help and besides, he's a spoiled kid who doesn't know a thing about teamwork, only exalts it when it's convenient for him. Russell really deserves, not this arrogant Dutchman, who is very reminiscent of kindergarten children, who want everything without giving anything, otherwise they will whine.
14 wins.... sure, he wouldn't have won those without Perez.... :')

It's not a popularity contest, it's about who is the best driver this year. Just because YOU don't like him, doesn't mean he isn't the fastest on track. You don't win the WDC by being the most popular driver. If you want to be the best, the very best, you have to be a bit of an asshole to get there. Max has only 1 goal, and that is to be the very best. That is exactly what you see on track. The killer-instinct who doesn't care about anything except winning.
 
I would rather give Driver of the Year title to a driver who has done more with his machinery than he should have. Since the hybrid era began, many fans insisted Lewis Hamilton was at the top because his car was at the top. He only had to defeat Nico or Valtteri most seasons. Now that Red Bull have the best car, should it have been expected that Max or Sergio would have won the title? I think so.

Many races we hear drivers lower down the grid claim "that felt like a win", and it's because they didn't believe their car could win the race, but they managed to extract everything out of what they had. I've heard it from Lando, Pierre, and several others.
The fact that Perez is so far behind in the championship shows the quality of Max in this car. It's not like the Mercedes=era where they were 1-2 and the number 3 was miles off... Its now Max, then a long time nothing and then the rest. That shows a bit how much the driver makes the difference
 
It's always going to be easier to shine in the 'best' car. I'll always have a problem with the more 'privileged' drivers who were gifted opportunity by being born into it (yes you Max, Charles, Lance and ...er...Nikita), but thats just me. Yes, this is the nature of top tier motorsport. It's why I always rated Hamilton even though he clearly had the best car for years. I lived in Stevenage (where he grew up) and trust me there ain't no silver spoons there!

Like man of the match, IMO the winner should definitely be punching above their weight. Saw some great driving lower down the field, and hope the future funding limits (Looks over at REDBULL) lead to more competitive racing where we are looking at driver skill over investment.
 
Voted Alonso, 'cos I'm a fanboi :)
After 37 years of watching F1, I've often enjoyed the racing more in the midfield where there's more than just 1 or 2 teams fighting it out.
Seeing as 'Nando spends most of his time fighting in the mid pack, it was an easy choice for me.
Roll on next season, when he's in that tight battle with Stroll, Haas and the Williams' for 16th place. :roflmao:
 
If only Alonso didn't break down as much. Gotta give it to Max.

If it was a hair contest, Albon would win. Maybe that's the only reason Alpha considered Jezus for next season, but he cut is hair and binned it.
 
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LEGLERG
without a doubt!!!


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he was the only one who had to fight 7 opponents at once!!!

-versttapen (for the championship)
-perez (for the sub-championship)
-redbull strategies (always superior)
-redbull leaders (true team leaders)
-sainz (as partner)
-Ferrari's strategies (tough rival, to this day he fights with them)
-the reliability of his car (especially in the first races)
-his own mind of him (especially after the crash in France)

and even so he is fighting for the sub-championship (verstappen went "on skates" to the prize) (leclerc has everything more difficult)
 
Voted Alonso, 'cos I'm a fanboi :)
After 37 years of watching F1, I've often enjoyed the racing more in the midfield where there's more than just 1 or 2 teams fighting it out.
Seeing as 'Nando spends most of his time fighting in the mid pack, it was an easy choice for me.
Roll on next season, when he's in that tight battle with Stroll, Haas and the Williams' for 16th place. :roflmao:
I can totally understand your vote. Alonso always delivers, both on and off the track. I hope he won't retire after leaving F1. Was great to see him in Dakar and Le Mans, and in both he wasn't there just to drive along, but for the win. I wouldn't be suprised if Carlos Sainz Jr would go the same route
 
LEGLERG
without a doubt!!!


View attachment 617355

he was the only one who had to fight 7 opponents at once!!!

-versttapen (for the championship)
-perez (for the sub-championship)
-redbull strategies (always superior)
-redbull leaders (true team leaders)
-sainz (as partner)
-Ferrari's strategies (tough rival, to this day he fights with them)
-the reliability of his car (especially in the first races)
-his own mind of him (especially after the crash in France)

and even so he is fighting for the sub-championship (verstappen went "on skates" to the prize) (leclerc has everything more difficult)
fighting 7 opponents at once and not wining in any of those fights isn't exactly a quality for the best driver title i'd say ;-)
 
fighting 7 opponents at once and not wining in any of those fights isn't exactly a quality for the best driver title i'd say ;-)
think about this... if he wins the sub-championship... he will have beaten 6 opponents (obviously, not verstapen, but he will have won and overcome opponents and difficult situations (even within his own team)
 
Norris for me. Easily the best of the rest in a quite bad car.

Max is also a great pick obviously. He was pretty much untouchable all year. (Thanks to Ferrari.)
 
Alonso for me. Austin was one of THE great drives in F1 history (up there with his Baku drive for McLaren a few years ago). In his 40s and still puts in such incredible performances in the midfield.
 

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