Most improved team – Ferrari
No, Ferrari did not win the either championship title in 2022. But they did finish as runners-up in both title races.
There would be many reasons why Ferrari is not worthy of the ‘most improved team’. After all, they committed more than a few embarrassing faux pas throughout the year. But the technical teams and engineers and designers put together a truly impressive racing car. And Charles Leclerc, and sometimes even Carlos Sainz, had some moments of true brilliance. There was even a moment when it looked as though it might finally be time for Ferrari to be champions once more. It didn’t turn out as such but the car at their disposal is a good one and a marked improvement on what they produced in previous years.
Most disappointing season – McLaren
A season of huge potential for McLaren eventually fizzled out to a fifth place in the constructor’s championship. But for a few moments of Lando Norris magic, there wasn’t much to remember in 2022 for McLaren.
The trajectory of the team has taken a serious nosedive in 2022 given the previous heights of 2021.
With Daniel Ricciardo’s best finish being a P5 in Singapore, the Aussie was well and truly trounced by teammate Norris. So much so, that he’s been booted out of the seat in favour of young Australian and F2 champion, Oscar Piastri. Regardless of driver changes, there’s a big hill for McLaren to climb if 2023 is going to be any better.
Best race – Saudi Arabia GP
Yes, the spectacle in Miami was a sight to behold and the season-opening win for Ferrari in Bahrain was impressive.
But, on pure race entertainment and drama, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix stands head and shoulders above the rest of the 2022 calendar as the best race of the season. It started with a sensational first-ever pole position for Checo Perez and was followed by a humdinger on Sunday.
The mental battle between Leclerc and Max Verstappen was not only massively enthralling but also a real glimpse into what the future battle for supremacy in F1 could look like.
The wheel-to-wheel game of high-speed chest kept everyone on the edge of their seats and, notably, without any idea who would emerge victorious. As it were, victory by a mere half-a-second for Verstappen netted the first of what would become a record-breaking 15 Grand Prix wins in a single season.
Part 2 continues next week
