4 bold predictions for the F1 2022 season

Formula One is nearly here with the second bout of testing underway next week, at the Bahrain International Circuit, before lights go out to a week later to start the season.

Red Bulls Max Verstappen goes into the season sporting the number one on his RB18, after the Dutchman secured the world championship last year. But, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton may be hungrier than ever to secure that eighth world championship after the contentious circumstances that cost him the title. 

After a years delay, as a result of the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic, the new set of regulations have finally arrived. The regulations have promised closer racing which could see plenty of intense battles occurring up and down the field, which now increases the chance for every driver to secure points this season.

After a couple years in the midfield scrap, McLaren – and now Ferrari – look to be on an upwards trajectory, finally returning to the front to fight for silverware. After a strong showing in testing, Ferrari and McLaren may find themselves in a four-way fight for the championship. 

Here are four bold predictions for the upcoming season:

Everyone to score points

The newest set of regulations has said the cars will be able to follow more closely than the previous generation of F1 cars, allowing plenty of overtaking opportunities. 

As a result, we could potentially see every driver score points this season. The last time every driver scored points was back in 2018, with Williams’ Sergey Sirotkin who secured a single point in Italy. In the following season, Williams’ rookie George Russell was the only driver who didn’t score a point. 

Haas F1 Team was the only team to not score any championship points last season, as they wrote of the year while they developed their 2022 contender: the VF-22. Hopefully, this effort will launch the team back up into the midfield scrap.  

McLaren & Ferrari join the title fight – after porpoising fix

After three days of testing, Ferrari and McLaren looked to be in strong form. McLaren’s Lando Norris topped the first day with a 1:19.568 lap. While Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the second day, a tenth slower than Norris, after the Monegasque driver put in a time of 1:19.689.

Ferrari looked to be the team who was most affected by the new ground-effect phenomenon, known as porpoising. As a result of Formula One returning to ‘ground-effect’ aerodynamics, where the downforce pushes the cars closer to the ground. Once the cars make contact with the ground, they bounce back up and then the cycle starts all over again – creating a rocking motion.

McLaren and Ferrari look to be on an upwards trajectory once more, and fighting for titles looks to be a strong possibly in the coming years. However, with the introduction to the new regulations we could witness a four-way battle for the title, this season, consisting of; McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull.

Lando Norris to secure first win

Following the most recent test in Barcelona, McLaren looked fairly strong and look to have a promising 2022 season after Norris put in the fastest lap on the first day. As a result, this could be the season where Norris secures his first career win in F1.

The British driver has come tantalisingly close to securing his first F1 career win, where he led for the majority of the Russian Grand Prix until wet weather conditions dampened that chance. However, the young Briton is slowly – but surely – becoming a rising star in the pinnacle of motorsport.

After he secured his first ever podium in the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix, he has collected four more podiums in 2021 including a second place finish.

Combining the early performances from McLaren and his rising trajectory, there’s a high chance for Norris to win his first race this year.

 

Hamilton to secure eighth title

Probably the least boldest prediction to be on this list. Lewis Hamilton is one of the greatest drivers to grace the F1 grid – if not THE greatest driver. As a result, he will definitely be a favourite to secure his eighth world title in 2022.

The seven-time world champion missed out on securing his eighth world title, last year, when Verstappen overtook him on the final lap with fresher, softer tyres. It was the direct result of a controversial decision by the race director, Michael Masi, who allowed a selection of cars, between Hamilton and Verstappen, to unlap themselves while the remaining lapped cars stayed in place.  

While Verstappen will fight tooth-and-nail to defend his championship this season, there’s no doubt the fight for the title will be a difficult one for Hamilton with Ferrari and McLaren looking likely to get into the mix.

It may be the least boldest but it’s still a viable prediction as we don’t truly know who is going to master this new era of F1.

That’s all for the article: 4 bold predictions for the F1 2022 season! What are your 4 bold predictions for the upcoming championship? Let us know in the comments!

Read more Formula One here: 

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• F1 Russian Grand Prix yet to be cancelled as Russia invades Ukraine
• Christian Horner comes under scrutiny for F1 comment
• FIA announce structural changes as Michael Masi is removed as race director

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