Complete calendar with 22 races
The 2022 Formula 1 season marked a new era for the sport with the introduction of revolutionary ground-effect regulations designed to promote closer racing and reduce aerodynamic turbulence. The technical reset promised to shake up the competitive order, and while it initially delivered intense battles between Ferrari and Red Bull, Max Verstappen ultimately dominated to secure his second consecutive World Championship with a record-breaking 15 race victories.
Ferrari emerged from pre-season testing as early favorites, with the F1-75 appearing to be the best interpretation of the new regulations. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz delivered strong performances in the opening races, with Leclerc winning twice in the first three rounds and building an early championship lead. However, the Scuderia's challenge gradually unraveled due to a combination of reliability issues, strategic errors, and driver mistakes. Leclerc's championship hopes were particularly damaged by engine failures in Spain and Azerbaijan while leading, along with costly errors at Imola and France.
Red Bull Racing's patience and development prowess proved decisive. After initial reliability concerns with the RB18, the team methodically improved the car's performance, optimized its setup, and reduced its weight. Adrian Newey's design eventually emerged as the class of the field, providing Verstappen with the platform to showcase his racecraft. The Dutchman's consistency was remarkable - he finished in the top two in all but three races he completed, demonstrating a level of reliability and speed that Ferrari couldn't match.
Verstappen's 15 victories shattered the previous single-season record of 13, held by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. He clinched the Drivers' Championship at the Japanese Grand Prix with four races remaining, finishing with 454 points - 146 points ahead of Leclerc. Red Bull also secured their fifth Constructors' Championship at the United States Grand Prix, their first team title since 2013, cementing their return to the top of the sport.
The midfield battle provided compelling entertainment throughout the season. Mercedes endured their most challenging campaign of the turbo-hybrid era, struggling with porpoising issues and an uncompetitive car concept. Despite George Russell's consistency and Lewis Hamilton's determination, the Silver Arrows managed just one victory - Russell's triumph in Brazil - marking Hamilton's first winless season since 2013. McLaren, Alpine, and Alfa Romeo engaged in close fights for positions in the constructors' standings, with several driver performances standing out, including Fernando Alonso's continued excellence at age 41.
The season featured several memorable moments beyond the championship battle. Zhou Guanyu's terrifying first-lap crash at Silverstone, from which he walked away unharmed, highlighted the safety advances in modern F1. Max Verstappen's controversial 2021 championship defense remained a talking point, while several high-profile driver market moves set the stage for future seasons, including Fernando Alonso's surprise switch to Aston Martin and Oscar Piastri's contentious move to McLaren amid Alpine's contractual claims.
Ultimately, 2022 demonstrated that while new regulations can shake up the competitive order, sustained excellence in engineering and execution still determines championships. Verstappen's second title confirmed his status as the sport's dominant force, while the ground-effect era's promise of closer racing showed mixed results - the regulations succeeded in allowing cars to follow more closely, but Red Bull's superiority ultimately created a gap that rivals couldn't close. The season set the stage for Red Bull's even more dominant 2023 campaign, while Ferrari's missed opportunity served as a harsh lesson in the importance of reliability and execution at the highest level of motorsport.