F1 enjoyed an exciting and action-packed 2021 season as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton went head-to-head in the first real team fight in a decade that ended in the most intense title final since 2016.
Verstappen eventually bested Hamilton to win his first world title in controversial circumstances after a vibrant season of drama and excitement, leaving F1 fans thirsty for more.
A major change in technical rules, including the introduction of a new generation car, has the potential to result in a full restart in 2022, with the competitive picture unknown.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of riders who we think could have the best chance of fighting for the World Championship in 2022.
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Assuming Mercedes is successful in developing a competitive car to enter the new era of F1, George Russell could challenge for a world championship in his first season with top-flight cars.
Russell has demonstrated his electric pace over a lap thanks to his stellar qualifying performances for bottom-placed Williams over the past three years. In his only previous appearance for Mercedes, standing in for Hamilton at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, Russell outperformed teammate Valtteri Bottas and came tantalizingly close to a fairytale first Grand Prix win.
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How Russell handles the pressure of being in the spotlight at Mercedes more than ever and how he holds his own against Hamilton promises to be one of the most intriguing storylines to come in 2022.
Russell is something of an unknown on our list but if he can reach the level many in the paddock are giving him credit for, the 23-year-old Briton could be a dark horse for the title.
Fernando Alonso’s 2022 season will depend entirely on the package Alpine gives him, but the fact that he’s been there and done it all before is why we’ve included the Spaniard in our top five.
With two world titles and plenty of experience contesting championship battles over the years, the desire and hunger has long been there for Alonso to achieve that previously elusive third F1 driver’s crown.
Despite being the oldest rider on the grid at 40, Alonso proved he hasn’t lost any of his magic with some daring performances during a strong comeback campaign that included a podium revisit in Qatar.
Alpine hopes that the introduction of a new engine concept it has been developing over the past two years, combined with new technical rules, can bring the team closer to the front of the grid.
If the Anglo-French squad can provide Alonso with the right car, there is no doubt that he has the ability to be a serious factor in the World Championship battle. Will “El Plan” come to fruition?
Ferrari may downplay its chances of returning to winning ways in 2022, but a sense of genuine optimism is brewing in Maranello, especially after its closest rivals Mercedes and Red Bull spent all of last season grappling with their intense long junk for championship titles.
Charles Leclerc already has two Grand Prix wins and nine pole positions to his credit, and the Monegasque now has more experience under his belt than when he first came under the spotlight as a Ferrari driver in 2019.
The 24-year-old may have fallen behind team-mate Carlos Sainz in the Championship on the last day of last season, but he has nonetheless delivered an outstanding 2021 with consistently high-quality performances.
Leclerc demonstrated his exceptional talent both over a lap and in the races, the latter being highlighted at Silverstone where he put on a brilliant drive just short of victory despite struggling engine gremlins.
If he can iron out his tendency to push too hard and make the odd mistake – like his crash in Monaco qualifying – Leclerc has the potential to become world champion.
2. Max Verstappen
As the reigning world champion, Verstappen is going into the 2022 season as one of the clear favorites for the title.
The Red Bull driver’s title-winning campaign over the past year has been highlighted by the achievement of a remarkably consistent level of performance, which he has impressively maintained throughout the 22-race season.
Verstappen has now proven he can both withstand the pressure of a world championship match and pull off the rare feat of beating Hamilton in a head-to-head title.
At just 24, there’s still room for improvement for Verstappen, who may not yet have reached his F1 peak – an ominous prospect for his rivals.
It remains to be seen if Red Bull will pay the price for their aggressive development push last season amid their relentless quest to topple Mercedes and win their first Drivers’ World Championship since 2013.
If Red Bull find themselves in a competitive position again, Verstappen will surely emerge as one of the leading title protagonists.
1. Lewis Hamilton
Based on the assumption that Hamilton does indeed return to the F1 grid this year, we believe the seven-time world champion will return with a vengeance, determined to fight back after controversially missing out on the title last year.
Hamilton will be injured following the events of last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but if he can channel that anger and Mercedes deliver the goods, the seven-time world champion will be a dangerous opponent in 2022.
Age shouldn’t be an issue for the recently turned 37-year-old considering Hamilton was still able to produce some of his greatest performances in 2021, especially in the second half of the season.
Hamilton has shown time and time again that you can never count him when the chips are down and his back is against the wall. Indeed, it is often in such moments of need that the Brit will dig deep into their pockets to do their best. One only has to look at his stunning catch-up win in Brazil last year to see that.
The 2022 rule overhaul will undoubtedly pose the greatest threat to Mercedes’ recent dominance, but the German marquee managed to stay on top until F1’s last significant rule change in 2017.
All that being said, Hamilton is our pick to triumph and a record-breaking eighth world title.
