The excitement for the 2022 Formula 1 season is growing quickly, and whether or not the order changes much as a result of the new F1 cars, we’re still in for a lot of action involving all 10 teams and 20 drivers on the grid.
So keep reading to learn about 5 rivalries that could result in 23 Grands Prix of flashpoints and explosions in 2022.
1. The Title Battle
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, without a doubt the defining rivalry of 2021, gave us a duel for the ages last season. And maybe we’ll be back for round two in 2022, with Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel defending his crown and Hamilton chasing a record eighth championship.
Will the two race against each other in a new manner this season? Last year, they collided with deadly results in Silverstone and Monza, with more eruptions in places like Imola and Jeddah.
Not only will we have to watch out for Verstappen and Hamilton, but also for Sergio Perez and George Russell, who will be eager to join the fight. Perez put in a defensive masterclass in Abu Dhabi, but the Mexican wants to be more than simply a rear-gunner for Vandoorne, and possibly help Red Bull win a sixth constructors’ title.
Russell, on the other hand, is a unique individual. Like Hamilton did with Fernando Alonso at McLaren in 2007, the youthful ex-Williams driver will want to make an early impact.
The 23-year-old might challenge not only his seven-time champion teammate, but also the Red Bull drivers. If there’s intra-team strife at Mercedes, expect Toto Wolff to scowl; if Russell proves to be a thorn in the side of Verstappen and co., expect a wry smile.
2. Giants in the Midst
Two behemoths, McLaren and Ferrari, are lurking in the shadows, both eager to join the war with the frontrunners this season. Even if they don’t take on the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull in 2022, there’s still the tantalizing prospect of a Carlos Sainz vs Charles Leclerc showdown.
Consider Sebastian Vettel’s final season at Ferrari, when the presence of Leclerc was more than a source of frustration for the four-time champion. When you add Sainz to the mix, there’s a lot of room for intra-team strife – but there’s also a lot of room for one of the grid’s finest combinations to blossom into a world-beating alliance.
Then there are two more accomplished drivers, McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris – the only pair to secure a one-two finish for their team in 2021 – who will be eager to take on the Scuderia. The Mercedes-powered squad has the same goals as their opponents, and its MCL36 has all of the necessary components for a successful 2022 season.
Last season, these two gigantic teams had a fantastic struggle for third place in the standings; this season, there’s the tantalizing chance of another toe-to-toe duel that may stretch the entire 23 races. Which squad will emerge victorious?
3. A triple-A Midfield Melee
Last season, three teams, Alpine, AlphaTauri, and Aston Martin, fought for mid-table supremacy and presented us with continuously thrilling close-quarters action. Alpine finished fifth in the championship, ahead of the Red Bull sister team, while Aston Martin finished seventh due to a lack of consistency.
Given that Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel are gearing up for their second seasons with Alpine and Aston Martin, respectively, there are six World Championships between the three teams. When you add in the likes of Pierre Gasly, who had his best season in 2021, as well as race winner Esteban Ocon, podium finisher Lance Stroll, and rising star Yuki Tsunoda, the potential for action skyrockets.
Alpine’s Alonso hasn’t lost his competitive edge, as evidenced by his performances in Hungary and Qatar last year, when the Spaniard went wheel-to-wheel with Vettel on several occasions, with the four-time champion emerging victorious as the Crypto.com Overtake Award winner.
Alpine has World Championship experience in both Alonso and staff at both the Enstone and Viry facilities, while AlphaTauri produced a diamond in the AT02 and will be trying to harness Red Bull Powertrains’ might to keep the upward trend going in 2022.
Three teams, six drivers, and a plethora of exciting action possibilities.
4. Sophomore Supremacy
The three 2021 rookies have progressed to second-year racers this season, but the attention remains on them: AlphaTauri’s Tsunoda, as well as the Haas combo of Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher, are working on challenging second albums.
Tsunoda had his moments in 2021, particularly his fourth-place finish in Abu Dhabi and his sixth-place finish in Hungary, but his campaign was marred by a lot of errors. He’ll undoubtedly be keen to show what he’s capable of in 2022 and break free from the shadow of teammate Gasly.
Haas, on the other hand, had a miserable season last year, with little to show for it. Schumacher’s P12 in Hungary may have been their high point, but the American team’s ambitions are much greater. Given that Haas spent the entire 2018 season working on it, we’re excited to see what the 2022 vehicle can do with a revitalized Ferrari power unit under the bodywork.
If the Haas VF-22 isn’t as tough to control as its predecessor, Schumacher and Mazepin may be able to reach their full potential. Will they, however, be able to stay on track? If they can escape an intra-team conflict, Haas’ youthful duo might have a breakout season…
5. Battling backmarkers
This season, there will be one rookie on the grid: Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu, who will be China’s first full-time F1 driver. As a result, his progress will be keenly monitored – and he has a stiff competitor in the form of ex-Mercedes racer Valtteri Bottas, who is located on the other side of the garage.
Will Zhou be a quiet understudy to the 10-time Grand Prix champion, or will he prove to be a thorn in his side? In any case, we’re looking for a strong debut season from Shanghai’s rising star.
Alfa Romeo is hoping to do better this season than they did last year, when Williams passed them for eighth place in the rankings. It will be fascinating to see who emerges victorious if those two teams, as well as the aforementioned Haas, go head-to-head again in 2022, as Williams prepares to field Alex Albon – making his return to F1 with the Grove squad – with Nicholas Latifi.
There’s potential for excitement everywhere on the grid. The on-track action in 2022 could be even hotter, thanks to the new era of F1 cars. It all starts in February with the car introductions, followed by the Barcelona and Bahrain testing – all leading up to the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on March 20.
