Ferrari Looks Strong, Lewis Hamilton Has Competition, Max Verstappen Could Repeat

As the 2022 Formula 1 season gets underway, there are more compelling storylines than we’ve seen in a while. Here are some key factors as we head into the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Will The Car And The Cap Be The Difference Maker?

“Porpoising”, side pods, and wings became a hot topic during testing with the new car, and as we kick off the new season, there are reasons why. The biggest x-factor for the entire 2022 season is the new car that sees larger wheels, and dramatic aero changes designed to make racing tighter. On top of that, F1 continues to address cost containment in an effort to make the field more competitive. While there are always advantages outside of the cap (staff salaries are not included in it), it’s a factor. The cap for 2022 is $140 million, down from $145 million last season. It may not be enough of a shift to move Williams or Haas into the front pack, but it should allow not just Ferrari, but theoretically McLaren, and possibly Alpine to make the championship more diversified.

Ferrari Appears Ready To Challenge Red Bull And Mercedes

From testing to free practice to qualifying the Scuderia Ferrari has looked strong. Both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were exceptionally strong in qualifying (P1 for Leclerc and P3 for Sainz), and really have been the buzz in the paddock since testing started. Early on it appears Ferrari has an exceptionally strong power plant and depending on how other teams adjust, it could be more of a three-way race at the front of the field.

Will Lewis Hamilton Find His Groove?

Mercedes has been tweaking the car, as evidenced by George Russell’s strong 4th place in FP2, but Sir Lewis Hamilton appeared to be struggling coming in P5 in qualifying for Bahrain. One thing that popped out of his practice sessions was a sizeable amount of downforce with the car. While not uncommon to see sparks fly from the undercarriage, Hamilton seemed to almost be bouncing down the front stretch at times.

Is Valtteri Bottas Out To Prove It Wasn’t Driving For Mercedes That Makes Him Great?

The Silver Arrows have dominated F1 for just short of a decade. The debate as to whether it’s the driver or the car that pushes one up or down the grid is always a hot one. So, with George Russell sliding into the Mercedes seat, Bottas has jumped over to Alfa Romeo. He looked exceptionally strong in his free practice sessions coming 6th ahead of Sergio Perez of Red Bull and three places ahead of Hamilton and finished 6th in qualifying. If Bottas is driving with a chip on his shoulder, it’s bound to make for an entertaining season.

Will The 2022 Car Allow Haas To Become A Mid-Pack Factor?

While Nikita Mazepin was an absolute disaster for Haas in 2021, Mick Schumacher showed that he has his father’s blood in him, and Kevin Magnussen returns in dramatic fashion. Haas has to be feeling very good given Magnussen qualifying P7 with Schumacher showing signs of improvement. With Dmitry Mazepin and all vestiges of Russian sponsorship jettisoned from the team due to the war in Ukraine, team principal Guenther Steiner may shout fewer F-bombs into his headset and see a window into moving Gene Haas’ team from the back of the field into more of a mid-pack factor.

With Micheal Masi No Longer Chief Steward, Will We See Less Undue Drama?

For months the Formula 1 world waited to see if Lewis Hamilton would retire. For months, Max Verstappen has had to (sadly) hear conversations about how his 2021 championship was not deserved. All that was tied to the wild ending of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in which Michael Masi allowed lapped cars to go around the safety car, placing Max Verstappen with fresher tires directly behind Lewis Hamilton, and the rest, as they say, is history. Was Masi swayed by Red Bull principal Christian Horner barking in Masi’s ear? It’s possible. Now, all that is gone. Changes out of the Abu Dhabi debacle sees Masi no longer chief steward, principals are no longer in direct radio contact with race control, and other changes have been made to try and keep the drivers racing, and having races become weekly conversations about decisions stewards are making.

Will Lando Norris Not Only Grab A Podium But A Win In 2022?

Norris grabbed four out of five podiums for McLaren in 2021 but couldn’t quite grab the brass ring and reel in a victory. He’s shown signs of brilliance and is on the verge. The question will be whether Zak Brown and the McLaren team can get he and Daniel Ricciardo, who bounced back from an abysmal start to 2021 to finish 8th in the points, into the hunt with Red Bull, Mercedes, and, Ferrari? If qualifying for the Bahrain GP is any indicator, it’s going to be a long climb. Ricciardo was bumped in Q1 and Norris in Q2. He’ll start from an anemic 13th on the grid.

What Will The New Miami Race Bring?

It’s no secret that Netflix’s Drive To Survive series has created incredible interest in the United States. The country always seemed mildly interested with no U.S. drivers in the field, until recently. The massive turnout at Circuit of The Americas in 2021 will now see massive crowds at the inaugural Grand Prix of Miami, a brand new circuit that will level the playing field for all drivers given its newness. The race could wind up being a wild card given it’s the fourth race on the schedule.

The 2021 “Race” Mess Will Be Over, But How Will Spa Be With Renovations?

While the main drama with the 2021 season centered on the Abu Dhabi race that determined the championship, the Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit de Spa-Francochamps was an embarrassment for the world’s most popular motorsports series. With torrential downpours, it was decided to have the field follow behind the safety car for two laps in the order in which they qualified and that was the “race.” Changes to the rules by the FIA and Formula 1 will prevent that from happening again, so even in a massive downpour, we will see some form of racing, albeit it might be as few as two laps it must not be behind a safety car. One thing to watch at Spa, during the offseason the facility saw renovation work with new a new runoff area at La Source with additional gravel trap space — something that likely came out of the tragic death of F2 driver Anthoine Hubert. New asphalt has been added to the famous section, as well as a grandstand removed between La Source and Eau Rouge. That has now been replaced with new seating that is an upgrade.

Will Max Verstappen Be The Max Of 2021?

If it’s possible for the reigning Formula 1 champion to have a chip on his shoulders, Max Verstappen certainly has a case. With how the 2021 season ended in controversy, Verstappen is going to use the 2022 season to show he was handed the championship but rightfully earned it. He’s put a target on his back by running with #1 on his Oracle Red Bull car, but qualifying and free practice in Bahrain shows he’s primed to pick up right where he left off. He qualified 2nd behind Leclerc and posted the best times in free practice.