Max Verstappen at a canter as Mercedes falter - GPFans 2022 race-by-race review

Verstappen, Horner, Prize Giving 2022 — Photo: © LAT Images

2022 F1 review

Verstappen at a canter as Mercedes falter - GPFans 2022 race-by-race review

A look back on a memorable campaign

Ewan Gale

Monday 26 December 2022 12:30

Canadian Grand Prix

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Sainz finally found form to fight Verstappen at the Circuit Giilles Villeneve as team-mate Leclerc took penalty pain for a new engine.

The Monégaque fought his way through the field to finish fifth as Perez retired with an issue for Red Bull.

Hamilton returned to the podium for the first time since the season opener.

Drivers' standings after round nine

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 175 pts

2. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 129

3. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 126

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 111

5. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 102

Constructors' standings after round nine

1. Red Bull Racing - 304 pts

2. Ferrari - 228

3. Mercedes - 188

4. McLaren - 65

5. Alpine - 57

British Grand Prix

A race for the ages at Silverstone as Sainz clinched his maiden F1 win from pole. The Spaniard had conceded the lead to Verstappen following an error but the Red Bull picked up floor damage and fell to seventh.

In a frantic final 10 laps, Ferrari strategy left Leclerc a sitting duck as Sainz cantered to victory, whilst Perez and Hamilton fought tooth and nail for the podium.

This was all after a frightening first corner incident that saw Zhou Guanyu flip upside down in his Alfa Romeo and trigger red flags.

For Haas, Mick Schumacher secured his first F1 points.

Drivers' standings after round ten

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 181 pts

2. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 147

3. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 138

4. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 127

5. George Russell [Mercedes] - 111

Constructors' standings after round ten

1. Red Bull Racing - 328 pts

2. Ferrari - 265

3. Mercedes - 204

4. McLaren - 73

5. Alpine - 67

Austrian Grand Prix

Leclerc secured a first win in eight races with a superb drive at the Red Bull Ring.

Verstappen won the sprint to add another eight points to his name but had no answer to his rival in the grand prix.

Sainz would have completed a Ferrari one-two had it not been for a spectacular PU failure late in the race, gifting Hamilton another podium for a resurgent Mercedes.

Drivers' standings after round 11

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 208 pts

2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 170

3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 151

4. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 133

5. George Russell [Mercedes] - 128

Constructors' standings after round 11

1. Red Bull Racing - 359 pts

2. Ferrari - 303

3. Mercedes - 237

4. McLaren - 81

5. Alpine - 81

French Grand Prix

Leclerc looked set to continue his form with a commanding lead early on at Paul Ricard, with Ferrari seemingly on top when it came to tyre management.

But pushing after Verstappen had triggered the first pit stop window, Leclerc lost control of his car and crashed out at Le Beausset, gifting victory to his rival.

Mercedes' fortunes took a turn for the better with a double podium, led by Hamilton.

Drivers' standings after round 12

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 233 pts

2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 170

3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 163

4. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 144

5. George Russell [Mercedes] - 143

Constructors' standings after round 12

1. Red Bull Racing - 396 pts

2. Ferrari - 314

3. Mercedes - 270

4. Alpine - 93

5. McLaren - 89

Hungarian Grand Prix

Russell stunned Ferrari with a maiden pole position at the Hungaroring and surged into the lead, though Leclerc put his superior pace to use with a move for the front on lap 31.

With Verstappen starting 10th due to a qualifying PU issue, the win looked to be sewn up for Leclerc, only for Ferrari to again bemuse with its strategy, switching to the unfancied hard tyres and dropping the Monégasque to sixth.

Verstappen charged past both Mercedes drivers and Sainz through strategy and outright pace to take another win, whilst Hamilton again led a double podium for the Silver Arrows.

Drivers' standings after round 13

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 258 pts

2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 178

3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 173

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 158

5. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 156

Constructors' standings after round 13

1. Red Bull Racing - 431 pts

2. Ferrari - 334

3. Mercedes - 304

4. Alpine - 99

5. McLaren - 95

Belgian Grand Prix

One of the most dominant performances of the season saw Verstappen assert his claim for a second championship.

The Dutchman was never troubled by his rivals and finished almost 18 seconds ahead of team-mate Perez.

Mercedes struggled to make an impression, though Russell did come close to chasing down Sainz in the latter stages.

Early race drama saw Hamilton and Alonso clash, with the Spaniard suggesting his former team-mate could only 'race at the front'.

Drivers' standings after round 14

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 284 pts

2. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 191

3. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 186

4. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 171

5. George Russell [Mercedes] - 170

Constructors' standings after round 13

1. Red Bull Racing - 475 pts

2. Ferrari - 357

3. Mercedes - 316

4. Alpine - 115

5. McLaren - 95

Dutch Grand Prix

Much like Hungary, Mercedes was back in the fight in the Netherlands, albeit ultimately still coming up short.

The Silver Arrows deployed an alternate strategy to force Red Bull's hand, with Verstappen dropping behind Hamilton during a late safety car for Bottas' stricken Alfa Romeo.

Question marks over a virtual safety car that played into Verstappen's hands before Bottas' incident were raised when Yuki Tsunoda mysteriously stopped on track, then continued and went to the pits only to stop again on his out-lap. Conspiracy theorists were soon rebuffed.

Russell pitted at the same time and both drivers overcame Hamilton, who also lost position to Leclerc.

Ferrari issues hit Sainz, with a slow stop and a penalty for an unsafe release dropping the Spaniard to eighth.

Drivers' standings after round 15

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 310 pts

2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 201

3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 201

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 188

5. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 175

Constructors' standings after round 15

1. Red Bull Racing - 511 pts

2. Ferrari - 376

3. Mercedes - 346

4. Alpine - 125

5. McLaren - 101

Italian Grand Prix

Another race where Verstappen was forced to fight through the pack following a PU penalty, leaving Leclerc on pole in front of the Tifosi.

But by lap four, Verstappen was already up to third from seventh. Team-mate Perez was forced into an early stop with a brake on fire but was able to continue.

When Sebastian Vettel retired early to trigger the virtual safety car, Ferrari gave up track position to switch to a two-stop and essentially hand Verstappen the initiative and a lead he would never lose.

Controversy struck late in the race when the safety car was deployed for Daniel Ricciardo's stranded McLaren. Verstappen won the race behind the safety car.

Several drivers had pitted expecting a restart, only to lose position. The incident revived memories of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Drivers' standings after round 16

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 334 pts

2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 319

3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 210

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 203

5. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 187

Constructors' standings after round 16

1. Red Bull Racing - 545 pts

2. Ferrari - 406

3. Mercedes - 371

4. Alpine - 125