Formula 1 season preview: Hamilton looking to avenge Verstappen defeat

New season, new drama

Formula 1’s 2022 season will roar into life this weekend for one of the most anticipated championships in recent memory.

The sport delivered high drama through a 2021 campaign that concluded with a deeply controversial denouement and a new world champion crowned in the shape of Max Verstappen.

Verstappen will don the #1 on his Red Bull car this year but faces stiff opposition from the field of 20 across the course of the next eight months.

Formula 1’s 2022 season is set to take in 22 grands prix in 20 different countries, commencing in Bahrain this weekend, and finishing in Abu Dhabi in November.

There are also returns to countries omitted since the pandemic, such as Australia, Singapore and Japan, while Miami is joining the schedule for the first time in May.

Verstappen favourite, Hamilton out for redemption

Last year’s title contenders have once again been installed as favourites. Reigning World Champion Verstappen is at 2.94 after setting the fastest time during pre-season testing in Bahrain, catching the attention with a couple of quick laps. He also suggested that Red Bull had not even yet chased pure performance from their new car, which is a good sign for their long-term prospects.

Lewis Hamilton, 3.05, is out for redemption after the agonising end to 2021. He has won more grands prix, 103, than anyone else in Formula 1 history, and is striving to break the record of seven titles he currently shares with Michael Schumacher.

Last year Verstappen and Hamilton won 18 of the 22 grands prix between them as they raised their game to a remarkable level.

Hamilton, though, played down Mercedes’ early 2022 prospects in the wake of a difficult few days during testing. “At the moment I don’t think we’ll be competing for wins,” he said on Saturday.

Mind games or truth? Rivals have doubts that Mercedes’ situation is as bad as they’re making out, and it is after all a very long season.

Might Hamilton also face an internal challenge from the other side of the garage? Mercedes has promoted protégé George Russell (9.6) and after impressing in backmarker machinery he now has a chance with a team that has won eight straight titles.

Mercedes should nonetheless head to Bahrain relatively confident – they have won the last three Bahrain grands prix, while Hamilton’s five victories at the circuit is the most of any driver.  

Max Verstappen is aiming to make a fast start to the season in Bahrain, after setting the quickest time in testing

New rules, different winners?

Formula 1 is nonetheless entering a new era that features overhauled technical regulations, with the return of ‘ground effect’ for the first time since the 1980s, revised front and rear wing concepts, the elimination of bargeboards, and enlarged 18-inch wheels.

Designers have sculpted radically different cars, and have taken contrasting approaches to do so, with the hope that the new rules will deliver closer and more exciting racing. It remains to be seen which of the design crews have taken the right path both early on and in terms of development throughout the course of the year. Could it trip up the two teams – Mercedes and Red Bull – that were locked in an intense title fight last year?

Several teams prioritised developing their 2022 cars throughout last year and have regarded the rules reset as a golden opportunity to stake their claim to overall honours.

That could be good news for the likes of a certain historic brand seeking to rejuvenate its ambitions: Ferrari.

Charles Leclerc (9.8) and Carlos Sainz (18) will be well-placed to profit from any Ferrari resurgence, and their smooth performance during pre-season testing has already been talked up by figures from Mercedes and Red Bull. Ferrari has a point to prove after several years in the doldrums and they have a young and hungry driver line-up eager to turn potential into reality.  

Ferrari was not in last year’s title fight, giving it ample opportunity to pour its resources onto its 2022 project, while under new rules a sliding scale means those further down the championship have more crucial wind tunnel time – and for 2022 that was based on 2020’s standings, when Ferrari was a paltry sixth.

Perez could shine

McLaren could also be one team to benefit from the overhauled regulations. Lando Norris (27) had a standout season with McLaren in 2021, coming agonisingly close to a maiden victory, while Daniel Ricciardo (60) is out to recover from a disappointing year in which his reputation took a blow. He nonetheless starts on the backfoot after missing testing due to Covid-19.

For those looking for a leftfield gamble, take a shot at Sergio Perez (70). As teammate to Verstappen at Red Bull he has a steep opposition, but is with a renowned team, and he has vowed to compete for overall honours in 2022 after a race win last season.

Alpine and Aston Martin both have long-term title ambitions, meaning 2022 may be too soon for them, but former champions are still striving to revive past glories. Fernando Alonso (100) and Sebastian Vettel (300) are firm outsiders but continue to compete with the overall ambition of adding to their vast trophy collections. 

Further back, the likes of Alfa Romeo, Williams and Haas – back-markers in recent years – could surge into the midfield if their work through 2021 pays off.

Recommended bets

Max Verstappen @ 2.94

Dark horse: Carlos Sainz @ 18