After twenty-two races, the 2022 season concludes with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. To conquer both titles nonchalantly is Red Bull, even if, there was no lack of uncertainty for respectable placements until the end. Let's see who and what is promoted, and who is postponed to 2023…
Regulations 2022, respected the promise of the show? SCORE: 8,5
It is clear: the promise of more battles compared to past years has been respected. With the older generation of single-seaters, those who were overtaken were finished, but now they have the opportunity to respond to the opponent. Furthermore, previously, you needed a pace better than about a second to overtake; now however, thanks to the new regulations – which allow you to stay in the draft while losing little aerodynamic load – you can attempt an attack even with a few tenths of an advantage per lap. The number of overtaking has increased by 31% compared to last season, a fact that convinces on the increase in battles and bodes well for the years to come.
There was no shortage of duels and twists and turns, just think of the five-way battle in Austria, ai question and answer from Leclerc and Verstappen in Bahrain, and ai numerous off-piste in Singapore. However, it should be noted that there was no shortage of boring races, in which the lack of battle between the two title contenders was not compensated by the few clashes in the center of the grid. Concluding the 'show' chapter, it seems clear how the Formula 1 is not yet ready to leave DRS, whose indispensability has been demonstrated on several occasions, see the Imola procession phase where the mobile wing was not made usable for many laps despite the acceptable conditions.
World struggle: a fairy tale that did not last long. SCORE: 6,5
The chase for the titles, after the first three fantastic races of the season, it looked promising. At the time, the only unknown was Red Bull's reliability, which seemed too poor in the face of an apparent solidity Ferrari. It didn't take many races for the situation to turn around. The stable has begun to show the first cracks, given the numerous reliability problems that forced the drivers to retire; but what made even more noise were the strategic defeats, daughters of a management of the race in the hands of subjects who were probably not very suitable. The redhead therefore sabotaged herself, effectively handing over the titles to Red Bull even before the summer holidays. Result: a world fight that lasted a few grand prix, a real shame given the premises.
Struggle builders: lightning and thunderbolts where you don't expect. SCORE: 9
Budget Cap, regulations, projects in the embryonic stageIn short, it is difficult to say what allowed such a close fight in the constructors' championship. Perhaps all these elements put together have shaped the perfect cocktail for true racing lovers.
Unlike 2021, all teams finished in points, and the gaps at the end of the year were very narrow between the rival teams on duty, a sign of a close fight until the last appointment. Suffice it to say that the final gap between AlphaTauri and Haas was only two points; Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin are done with it same score; Alpine and McLaren P4 was played right up to the last few races, the same goes for the run-up to silver between Ferrari and Mercedes. In fact, the only two outsiders were Red Bull and Williams, respectively first and last in the standings. Result: widely promoted team battle, needless to say that we hope equally close comparisons in the future.
Race direction and FIA: smudges and lack of authority. VOTE: 5
Of course, the referees have in fact just arrived, and you don't invent referees overnight. However, it would be serious to forget the experience of these subjects in other motor series, in short, something more was expected after the guillotine of Masi, but the music hasn't changed. The little clarity and the discrepancy between the director's notes and the rules did not go unnoticed; just as it has not gone unnoticed the tractor in the middle of the track at Suzuka, the hypocrisy in the fight against porpoising, and the call of the safety car at Monza. To err is human, but as they say "burdens and honors". All that remains is to hope for the benefit of stabilityin order to find a compass that seems to be missing since the disappearance of Charlie Whiting.
Eco-sustainability and human rights: we are in 2022, yet it doesn't seem like it. VOTE: 4
It is very easy to carpet circuits and televisions with slogans that cry out for equity and the condemnation of discrimination, but when it comes to the facts, money brings down the house of cards. The circus too often takes a mere facade position on sensitive issues such as human rights and the environment. What then happens in fact contradicts the fine words that are so convenient for the business sphere of the premier class. 'We race as one', and then we race in countries where human rights are trampled on such as carpets; 'zero emissions goal', and then they are done transfers that separate from any logic of efficiency and sustainability. The planet is affected, and so are the insiders. F1 is increasingly disposable, and not a few will suffer the consequences.
