2022 Formula One World Championship — Red Bull Ascendant, Mercedes in Freefall
The 2022 season marked the dawn of a new era.
After the chaos and controversy of Abu Dhabi, Formula One tore down its old script.
A new generation of ground-effect cars, simplified aerodynamics, and heavier 18-inch tires promised closer racing — and a reset for the sport.
But resets have winners and losers.
Red Bull Racing, forged in the fury of 2021, rose to dominate.
Ferrari, reborn in scarlet optimism, began as contender and faded in confusion.
Mercedes, the giant of eight straight titles, fell to earth.
The year belonged to Max Verstappen — calmer, faster, and utterly ruthless.
From early misfortune to an avalanche of victories, he became not merely champion again — but the face of Formula One’s new age.
Round 1 — Bahrain Grand Prix (Sakhir, 20 March 2022)
New rules, same stage — Bahrain’s twilight glow.
Ferrari shone brightest.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz delivered a one–two as both Red Bulls retired with fuel system failures in the final laps.
The tifosi dared to dream again.
Winner: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Fastest Lap: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Championship Lead: Leclerc (+7 over Sainz)
Round 2 — Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (Jeddah, 27 March 2022)
A duel under the floodlights.
Leclerc and Verstappen traded positions five times in ten laps, each brake-feinting and lifting to game DRS.
Verstappen’s aggression finally prevailed.
Ferrari and Red Bull — evenly matched, fiercely divided.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Championship Lead: Leclerc (+12 over Sainz)
Round 3 — Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne, 10 April 2022)
Melbourne returned after three years — and Leclerc was transcendent.
He dominated qualifying, controlled the race, and took fastest lap.
Verstappen retired again with fuel pressure issues; Red Bull looked brittle.
Ferrari’s points lead ballooned — 34 over Red Bull.
Winner: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Fastest Lap: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Championship Lead: Leclerc (+34 over Russell)
Round 4 — Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix (Imola, 24 April 2022)
Then, the tide turned.
Verstappen and Red Bull struck back with precision — a sprint win and a grand slam: pole, fastest lap, and victory.
Leclerc spun chasing Pérez and finished sixth.
Momentum shifted visibly.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Championship Lead: Leclerc (+27 over Verstappen)
Round 5 — Miami Grand Prix (Miami Gardens, 8 May 2022)
America’s new spectacle: yachts on asphalt and pastel palm trees.
Verstappen muscled past Leclerc mid-race to win again.
Ferrari’s straight-line deficit was clear.
Miami signaled Red Bull’s resurgence.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Championship Lead: Leclerc (+19 over Verstappen)
Round 6 — Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona, 22 May 2022)
The day the championship truly turned.
Leclerc led easily until a turbo failure ended his race.
Verstappen recovered from an off-track moment and DRS issues to win — his third in four races.
Leclerc’s reliability nightmare began; Red Bull took the Constructors’ lead.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Sergio Pérez (Red Bull)
Championship Lead: Verstappen (+6 over Leclerc)
Round 7 — Monaco Grand Prix (Monte Carlo, 29 May 2022)
Rain, chaos, and heartbreak for Ferrari.
A botched double-stack pit stop cost Leclerc victory at home.
Red Bull’s strategic mastery handed Pérez the win, Verstappen third.
Ferrari’s perfectionism crumbled into confusion.
Winner: Sergio Pérez (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Lando Norris (McLaren)
Championship Lead: Verstappen (+9 over Leclerc)
Round 8 — Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Baku, 12 June 2022)
Ferrari imploded.
Both Leclerc and Sainz retired with mechanical failures — while Red Bull took a dominant one–two.
It was a gut punch to Maranello.
From optimism to despair in eight races.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Sergio Pérez (Red Bull)
Championship Lead: Verstappen (+21 over Pérez)
Round 9 — Canadian Grand Prix (Montréal, 19 June 2022)
Verstappen’s first test of defense.
Leclerc started at the back but climbed to fifth.
Sainz chased Verstappen to the finish, but the Dutchman held him off by a second.
Control had replaced chaos.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
Championship Lead: Verstappen (+46 over Pérez)
Round 10 — British Grand Prix (Silverstone, 3 July 2022)
One of the season’s great races.
A first-lap crash for Zhou Guanyu stunned the crowd — his Alfa Romeo vaulting the barrier, miraculously uninjured.
When racing resumed, Leclerc led, but Ferrari’s refusal to pit him under Safety Car cost victory.
Sainz claimed his maiden win; Hamilton returned to the podium.
Winner: Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Championship Lead: Verstappen (+34 over Pérez)
Round 11 — Austrian Grand Prix (Spielberg, 10 July 2022)
Leclerc revived his title hopes with a commanding drive, overtaking Verstappen three times on track.
But Ferrari’s reliability ghost returned — his throttle jammed near the finish, barely surviving.
A reminder that speed means little without stability.
Winner: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Fastest Lap: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Championship Lead: Verstappen (+38 over Leclerc)
Round 12 — French Grand Prix (Le Castellet, 24 July 2022)
A scream in the desert air.
Leclerc, leading confidently, lost the rear mid-corner and crashed out — his own mistake.
Verstappen cruised to victory, his advantage stretching beyond hope.
Leclerc’s anguished radio — “Nooooo!” — became the sound of Ferrari’s season.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
Championship Lead: Verstappen (+63 over Leclerc)
Round 13 — Hungarian Grand Prix (Budapest, 31 July 2022)
Ferrari’s strategy fell apart entirely — fitting hard tires in mild weather, surrendering pace.
Verstappen won from 10th on the grid, even after a spin.
Red Bull’s command now total; Ferrari’s credibility in ruins.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Championship Lead: Verstappen (+80 over Leclerc)
Round 14 — Belgian Grand Prix (Spa, 28 August 2022)
Pure domination.
Verstappen, starting 14th due to grid penalties, won by 18 seconds.
Red Bull’s efficiency was surgical — DRS, straight-line speed, and tire life all unmatched.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Championship Lead: Verstappen (+93 over Pérez)
Round 15 — Dutch Grand Prix (Zandvoort, 4 September 2022)
At home again, Verstappen conquered.
Ferrari floundered in pit errors, Mercedes gambled on track position, but Verstappen was inevitable.
The Netherlands glowed orange in the smoke of victory.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Championship Lead: Verstappen (+109 over Leclerc)
Round 16 — Italian Grand Prix (Monza, 11 September 2022)
Verstappen’s most complete drive.
From seventh to first by Lap 12, he controlled pace and tire life effortlessly.
A late Safety Car ended the race under yellow — anti-climax, but appropriate: Red Bull didn’t need drama anymore.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Sergio Pérez (Red Bull)
Championship Lead: Verstappen (+116 over Leclerc)
Round 17 — Singapore Grand Prix (Marina Bay, 2 October 2022)
Ferrari’s last flash of relevance.
Sergio Pérez won with calm precision amid wet chaos, resisting Leclerc’s pressure.
Verstappen finished seventh after early errors — his only truly off weekend.
Winner: Sergio Pérez (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: George Russell (Mercedes)
Championship Lead: Verstappen (+104 over Leclerc)
Round 18 — Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka, 9 October 2022)
In torrential rain, Verstappen won by 27 seconds in a race lasting barely 40 minutes.
Confusion reigned over points allocation — until FIA officials confirmed full points applied.
Verstappen, bewildered, was suddenly World Champion again.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo)
World Champion: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Round 19 — United States Grand Prix (Austin, 23 October 2022)
Red Bull sealed the Constructors’ title — their first since 2013.
A day after founder Dietrich Mateschitz passed away, the team raced in mourning, and Verstappen overcame a slow pit stop to win.
Emotion tempered dominance.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: George Russell (Mercedes)
Championship Lead: Verstappen (+124 over Leclerc)
Round 20 — Mexican Grand Prix (Mexico City, 30 October 2022)
Verstappen’s 14th win — the most in a single season.
Leclerc trailed far behind, and Mercedes’ upgrades faltered.
A year of records, and of power restored to Red Bull’s empire.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: George Russell (Mercedes)
Championship Lead: Verstappen (+136 over Leclerc)
Round 21 — São Paulo Grand Prix (Interlagos, 13 November 2022)
Finally, Mercedes’ redemption.
George Russell took his maiden win, Hamilton second, delivering the team’s only one–two of the year.
Yet Verstappen’s refusal to yield position to Pérez — “I told you already, don’t ask me again” — exposed fractures within Red Bull’s unity.
Winner: George Russell (Mercedes)
Fastest Lap: George Russell (Mercedes)
Championship Lead: Verstappen (+136 over Leclerc)
Round 22 — Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Yas Marina, 20 November 2022)
A calm finale after chaos.
Verstappen led from start to finish for his 15th win — a record that spoke for itself.
Leclerc held off Pérez to secure runner-up in both championships.
The storm of 2021 had become the structure of 2022.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Fastest Lap: Lando Norris (McLaren)
World Champion: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Epilogue — The Empire Rebuilt
Red Bull had reclaimed the throne it once ruled under Vettel.
This time, their empire was forged not by charm, but by control.
Ferrari’s failure to convert promise into results was Shakespearean; Mercedes’ fall from grace, sobering.
Verstappen, once the insurgent, became the establishment — efficient, dominant, detached.
The 2022 season was less about the battle and more about the order that followed —
the year Formula One rediscovered balance, and Red Bull rewrote its legacy under new regulations.
World Drivers’ Champion: Max Verstappen 🇳🇱 (Red Bull RB18)
Constructors’ Champion: Red Bull Racing 🇦🇹 (RB18)
📚 Sources & References — 2022 Formula One World Championship
Primary Historical Records
Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) — 2022 Formula One World Championship Official Results.
Full race classifications, technical bulletins, and penalties.Formula One Management (FOM) — 2022 Season Data Archive.
Lap charts, pit strategies, tire degradation reports.Red Bull Racing Technical Notes (Milton Keynes, UK) — RB18 aerodynamic development, Honda PU integration data.
Scuderia Ferrari Engineering Reports (Maranello, Italy) — SF75 design brief and reliability logs.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Archive (Brackley, UK) — W13 porpoising analysis and chassis correction documentation.
Contemporary & Period Publications
Motor Sport Magazine (2022 Issues) —
“Red Bull Ascendant,” “Ferrari Falters,” “Mercedes in Freefall.”Autosport / Motorsport.com (2022) —
Technical analysis: ground-effect aero, tire evolution, Ferrari’s strategic collapse.The Guardian (UK) — “Verstappen and the New Order,” “Ferrari’s Self-Inflicted Wounds.”
BBC Sport (UK) — “New Cars, Old Problems,” “Red Bull Seals Constructors’ Crown.”
La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy) — “Leclerc, il rimpianto,” “Ferrari, un sogno interrotto.”
Books & Longform Analyses
Mark Hughes. The New Ground Effect Era. Haynes, 2023.
Ross Brawn. Reset: The 2022 Revolution. Simon & Schuster, 2023.
Adrian Newey. Blueprints of Dominance. Red Bull Media Press, 2024.
Documentaries & Audio-Visual Sources
Netflix. Drive to Survive, Season 5 (2023). Episodes: “Red Rebuild,” “Unstoppable,” “The Fall of the Prancing Horse.”
Sky Sports F1. Season Review: The Ground Effect Era Begins.
FIA Heritage Series. 2022 — Red Bull Ascendant.
BBC Archives. Verstappen: The Architect of the New Age.
