It feels like the 2021 season ended with a grandstand spectacle just yesterday, but we’re already into the new year and we’re heading for what has what it takes to be an exciting new campaign. Here are 10 things to look forward to ahead of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship season.
1. Brand new cars
This season heralds a new era of Formula 1 with completely new vehicle designs, the result of extensive new regulations designed to improve the racing spectacle.
A number of features, including a focus on ground effect, 18-inch tires, and a redesigned front wing and nose, ensure that the cars can drive closer together – with the potential for more overtaking maneuvers on the track.
READ MORE: 10 Things You Need To Know About The Brand New 2022 F1 Car
The cars are also safer, consume a higher proportion of sustainable fuel and should differ significantly from previous years.
Come to the car launches – Mercedes has already fired its W13 engine – and the revelations will come thick and fast.
We can’t wait to see the 2022 F1 cars hit the track
2. Verstappen defends, Hamilton chases
What good is a new car without a suitable championship fight? After the blockbuster season 2021, the second round between the main protagonists Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton awaits us.
This means that Hamilton is aiming for a record eighth championship title while Verstappen is aiming to defend his title and take a second place in the process. It’s been a while since anyone other than Hamilton defended a title (back in 2014 when it was Sebastian Vettel), and this year, Verstappen will also be using the number 1 in his car for the first time since Vettel in 2014 .
HAMILTON VS VERSTAPPEN: Why their rivalry has the potential to become the greatest in F1 history
George Russell joins the Silver Arrows to replace Valtteri Bottas.
As mentioned earlier, the new era of F1 cars could mean closer races – more teams are hoping to crash the party this year – and a frozen engine concept should mean Red Bull Powertrains could once again compete with Mercedes’ performance.
Verstappen will defend his title for the first time in 2022
3. A great F1 campaign with 23 races
This epic title fight will take place over 23 races in 2022 – the longest F1 campaign to date. Popular venues like Suzuka, Montreal, Melbourne and Singapore are expected to return while we host the first Miami Grand Prix (more below) in May.
If 2021 has shown us anything, it is that each of the 23 circuits on the provisional calendar – Zandvoort, Jeddah and Imola – are geared towards giving us an exciting competition.
The season is scheduled to start on March 20th and end on November 20th. Click here to view it in full.
2022 is an exciting season with 23 races ahead of us
4. Ferrari and McLaren take the lead
Ferrari and McLaren hope to fight at the top this season. Both teams have shown a glimpse of their huge stature and previous successes in 2021, McLaren taking the only one-two of the season in Italy, while Ferrari took third place in the season championship and almost 200 points more than in 2020.
READ MORE: Best Improved, Best Value and More – It’s Our 2021 Star Car Awards
Lando Norris had his best season so far in 2021 and unfortunately missed P5 in the overall standings, while Ferrari’s line-up of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz turned out to be perhaps the strongest field and scored points in every race except France.
Daniel Ricciardo should be familiar with the work in Woking and take off in 2022, making Ferrari versus McLaren a true battle of the titans. Can they be more than a thorn in the side of Mercedes and Red Bull?
Two teams hoping to get back to the front row are Ferrari and McLaren
5. Two titans ascending aim to hit the front
There is tougher competition in the form of Alpine and Aston Martin, the former a works team – and the only one with Renault power – and the latter has received a free hand to attack from owner Lawrence Stroll.
Alpine took a win courtesy of Esteban Ocon in 2021 while Fernando Alonso made a brilliant comeback in F1 and stood on the podium in Qatar to prove he has lost none of his brand warfare.
Aston Martin may have fought a little more – even if Sebastian Vettel got a brilliant podium in Baku and almost another podium in Budapest – but they have serious potential. Just listen as their owner talks about his plans …
Make it a triple-A battle as AlphaTauri takes on the fast Red Bull Powertrain, with Pierre Gasly at his best and Yuki Tsunoda taking his run in his rookie season after learning the ropes.
Alpine, Aston Martin and AlphaTauri showed real combat in 2021 and have potential for a lot more
6. Williams continues his journey when Albon returns
Alex Albon is back after putting in some great performances in 2020. The Thai-Briton spent a year on the sidelines while Sergio Perez appeared for Red Bull and Tsunoda entered his AlphaTauri headquarters.
READ MORE: Alex Albon on his year on the sidelines, how Red Bull helped him get back on the grid, and the next chapter with Williams
Williams signed the Red Bull-backed 25-year-old to partner with Nicholas Latifi when Russell was promoted to Mercedes. It was a fitting commitment for the Grove team as they want to continue their ascent.
It would be great to see Williams reach the heights they’re known for, but that could be a daunting task in 2022. Regardless, last season has shown that the British team is back to their best and could well be another step on the right track for them in 2022.
Alex Albon is back, this time with Williams hoping to continue their uptrend
7. Zhou makes his debut
Zhou Guanyu will make history as the first Chinese driver to drive full-time in Formula One, and his debut season will be followed closely as the only rookie in the field.
The 22-year-old becomes Alfa Romeo together with the former Mercedes Grand Prix winner Bottas in a pairing that combines experience and youth.
ANALYSIS: Why Alfa Romeo chose Zhou, how the deal came about – and who else was fighting for the seat
It’s not Zhou’s F1 car debut – he’s tested Alpine and Alfa Romeo machines, of course – but it will prove himself on the grid for the first time and will also enjoy a home race on the calendar.
Zhou took over the wheel of the Alfa Romeo at the Abu Dhabi test after the season
8. Haas and Alfas clean slate
Then there is the curious case of Haas, which ended without points in 2021. Things may look bad for the American team now, but let’s not forget that they decided to forego developing their 2021 car in order to focus their resources and time on this season.
Also, Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin are going into their second season and it will certainly be interesting to see their progress.
Alfa Romeo also struggled in 2021, but they have an entirely new driver line-up and (like Haas) a Ferrari powerplant. The Scuderia touts their rapid improvement as they attempt to catch up with Honda and Mercedes.
Haas put everything into his 2022 car. How well will it go?
9. The biggest season of F2 and F3 so far
As the title suggests, the road to Formula 1 will have an enticing season in 2022.
Both championships will be held on the same weekends as F1, and will roll back from three to two races per weekend, with their formats changing to reflect this as well.
READ MORE: F2 and F3 calendars confirmed for 2022 with the greatest seasons of all time for both F1 support championships
We will now see that F2 will partner with F1 on 14 events in 2022, starting with the season opener in Bahrain, while F3 will compete alongside F2 and F1 for nine rounds.
Both championships also welcome the Dutch team Van Amersfoort Racing, with whom a certain Verstappen made his single-seater debut in 2014, and a multitude of new drivers who want to make a name for themselves.
F2 and F3 offer tireless promotions in support of F1 throughout the season
10. Welcome to Miami
Yes, in 2022 the very first Miami Grand Prix – a party in the city that is (of course) hot – will take to the streets from May 6-8.
Drivers will tackle 19 turns and 5.41 kilometers of the Miami International Autodrome around the Hard Rock Stadium. This exciting new circuit features three straights and DRS zones with an estimated top speed of 320 km / h and there is no doubt that it will be a dazzling test for the drivers and the new F1 cars.
MIAMI GP: Everything you need to know about F1’s newest race – including track design
In addition, this is the first time since 1984 that F1 has held two races in the States – Austin at the United States Grand Prix in October.
This season could be another big one and we are waiting with bated breath to see the teams’s car designs. Stay tuned because they will be revealed very soon.
