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

Singapore Grand Prix

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Another Red Bull win but this time it fell the way of Perez, who was outstanding in tricky wet-dry conditions.

The Mexican started behind Leclerc but, after a delay of over an hour due to storms at Marina Bay, Perez made the jump and his way through.

Six drivers retired through crashes and reliability issues, leading to a number of safety car and virtual safety car periods.

But Perez dominated and had enough of a gap to overcome a post-race five-second penalty for falling too far behind the safety car.

Hamilton hit the wall but continued and finished ninth, with Verstappen hitting troubles of his own en route to seventh.

Ricciardo secured his best finish of the season, finishing fifth behind team-mate Lando Norris.

Drivers' standings after round 17

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 341 Points

2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 237

3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 235

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 203

5. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 202

Constructors' standings after round 17

1. Red Bull Racing - 576 Points

2. Ferrari - 439

3. Mercedes - 373

4. McLaren - 129

5. Alpine - 125

Japanese Grand Prix

Drama and controversy in Japan as a second successive F1 race was shortened due to rain.

The race started as scheduled but Sainz aquaplaned on lap one causing a crash. Drivers, led by Pierre Gasly, were left furious as a tractor crane was sent onto the circuit to recover the Ferrari.

A red-flag period was triggered and by the time it ended and the rain subsided, only 40 minutes of racing were able to be completed.

By the conclusion, Verstappen emerged as a dominant winner by 27 seconds over Perez, who was gifted second by a post-race penalty for Leclerc after he cut the final chicane on the final lap.

Esteban Ocon held off Hamilton for fourth after a stunning battle, whilst Vettel and Fernando Alonso crossed the line side-by-side for sixth.

Nicholas Latifi picked up ninth for what would prove to be his final F1 points.

Leclerc's penalty and the awarding of full points meant Verstappen wrapped up his second title, albeit in confusing circumstances.

Drivers' standings after round 18

C. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 366 pts

2. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 253

3. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 252

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 207

5. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 202

Constructors' standings after round 18

1. Red Bull Racing - 619 pts

2. Ferrari - 454

3. Mercedes - 387

4. Alpine - 143

5. McLaren - 130

United States Grand Prix

Verstappen delivered a fitting tribute following news over the weekend of the death of owner and co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, even if a slow pit stop threatened to throw that away.

It had looked a comfortable afternoon before a wheel-gun failure allowed Hamilton to take the lead.

Cue a chase from the now two-time champion, who displayed his stunning speed in abundance to overcome his 2021 rival. Leclerc finished third ahead of Perez as the battle for second in the standings continued.

The most dramatic moment of the race came when Alonso was launched over the back of 2023 Aston Martin team-mate Lance Stroll.

The Spaniard miraculously continued and picked up seventh place, which was only confirmed after an appeal against a penalty following a Haas protest.

Drivers' standings after round 19

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 391 pts

2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 267

3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 265

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 218

5. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 202

Constructors' standings after round 19

1. Red Bull Racing - 656 pts

2. Ferrari - 469

3. Mercedes - 416

4. Alpine - 149

5. McLaren - 138

Mexico City Grand Prix

A race that saw Mercedes firmly overtake Ferrari as the second-best team, or at least momentarily, as Russell and Hamilton pushed Verstappen close for pole.

The British duo were unable to challenge the Dutchman into turn one, however, and despite a difference in opinion on strategy, Verstappen was able to make a soft-medium plan work in his favour.

Hamilton managed to get the best of team-mate Russell, as did Perez, while Ferrari finished a minute off the pace.

Drivers' standings after round 20

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 416 pts

2. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 280

3. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 275

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 231

5. Lewis Hamilton [Mercedes] - 216

Constructors' standings after round 20

1. Red Bull Racing - 696 pts

2. Ferrari - 487

3. Mercedes - 447

4. Alpine - 153

5. McLaren - 146

São Paulo Grand Prix

The final sprint of the season saw Magnussen take a sublime first F1 pole in tricky wet-dry-wet conditions.

Russell qualified third despite crashing into the gravel, and was able to find speed in the sprint to take the win ahead of Sainz and Hamilton. Verstappen slid to fourth after contact with the Spaniard.

In the race, Mercedes was on top with Russell ultimately dominating and Hamilton securing a one-two after overcoming early contact with Verstappen in an incident that set fires burning again.

A clearly frustrated Verstappen also fell out with Perez when refusing to obey Red Bull team orders at the end as the RB18s finished only sixth and seventh, behind Alonso's Alpine. Sainz finished third ahead of Leclerc.

Drivers' standings after round 21

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 429 pts

2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 290

3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 290

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 265

5. Lewis Hamilton [Mercedes] - 240

Constructors' standings after round 21

1. Red Bull Racing - 719 pts

2. Ferrari - 524

3. Mercedes - 505

4. Alpine - 167

5. McLaren - 148

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The focus remained on the battle for second in the drivers' championship as F1 arrived at Yas Marina for the final round of the season.

Verstappen was in commanding form to take a stunning 15th win of the season, whilst Ferrari finally got its act together to out-think Red Bull strategically and get Leclerc ahead of Perez.

Mercedes fell back, with its struggles this year summed up by Hamilton's late-race retirement.

Vettel secured a point on his final F1 outing before retirement as the sport went out for the year on a high.

Drivers' standings after round 22

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 454 Points

2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - 308

3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - 305

4. George Russell [Mercedes] - 275

5. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - 246

Constructors' standings after round 22

1. Red Bull Racing - 759 Points

2. Ferrari - 554

3. Mercedes - 515