After a month-long break, Formula 1 will reignite its 2022 season with three back-to-back races, starting with Belgian Grand Prix this weekend (Aug 26-28).
ABOVE:Check the interactive to track all updates from Belgian GP.
The season began with Ferrari replacing Mercedes at the top of the F1 pyramid alongside Red Bull. The Italian giant, led by Charles Leclerc, looked to have found the right ingredients to win its first title since 2007.
But wrong strategic calls coupled with unreliable machinery held Leclerc back and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen began to assert himself in the title race.
As the second half of the season begins, the Dutch driver holds a lead of 80 points, while his team leads the Prancing Horses by 97 points.
Here are the highlights from this season
Sebastian Vettel retires
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel announced last month this would be his final season in Formula 1. Currently racing for the Aston Martin side, Vettel’s title wins came during his stint at the Red Bull.
RELATED: FIVE FEATS FROM VETTEL’S F1 CAREER
Max Verstappen digs in
The reigning world champion, Verstappen had to do it the hard way at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the last race before the summer break. The Dutch driver had a poor qualifying session, finding himself 10th on the starting grid on race day. But astute planning from the Red Bull side and a few calculated overtakes ensured Verstappen clinched his eighth win of the season.
Sainz’s disobedience and blistering finish at Silverstone
The British GP began on a scary note with Alfa Romeo’s Guang Zhou suffering crash. This was followed by Max Verstappen thrown out of win contention due to damage to his car. The last 10 laps were the highlights of the race. Carlos Sainz set the ball rolling when he disobeyed team orders to overtake his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc for the win.
Ferrari’s Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr’s win at British Grand Prix was the first of his Formula 1 career. | Photo Credit: AFP
Then ensued a three-way scrap for the other two podium places between Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Sergio Perez (Red Bull) and Leclerc. The Ferrari driver eventually missed out on the podium after a heady battle that enthralled fans.
And the Oscar goes to?
Aston Martin was quick to pounce on Fernando Alonso as its replacement for the outgoing Vettel. This meant an opening at Alpine side, Alonso’s current team, which soon announced it was promoting its reserve driver, Oscar Piastri. But the Australian driver denied this and said he will not be driving for Alpine in 2023.
Earlier this week, Daniel Ricciardo announced that he is parting ways with McLaren, which could possibly mean that Piastri could be heading to the British team. So, the question that remains, where does Oscar go?
Perez party at Monaco
After the 2021 season, in which Verstappen dominated his teammate Perez, everyone expected the Mexican to play second fiddle to the World Champion. But Perez has held his own this season, even beating his Dutch teammate on multiple occasions on a level playing field.
RELATED: F1 DRIVERS COMPARED TO THEIR TEAMMATES
The crowning glory came at Monaco GP, where Perez and Red Bull cashed in on adverse weather conditions and faulty strategy from Ferrari to clinch a win - a third of his career. With this win, he also became the most successful Mexican F1 driver of all time.
Surprise Package
George Russel’s signing for Mercedes was no surprise. What was not foreseen, however, was how easily he matched up to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. The younger Brit has outshone his senior at an underperforming Mercedes. Though the Toto Wolff-managed side hasn’t won a race yet, it has shown marked improvement with two double podiums to wind up the first half.
Faulty Few
Ferrari’s title hopes came together and fell apart in no time and its drivers aren’t to be blamed much for it. An unreliable car, that forced Leclerc and Sainz to retire multiple times, paired with questionable strategic calls, have exposed Ferrari’s inability to match Red Bull’s consistency.
Mattia Binotto and his team’s biggest gaffe came in the Hungarian GP, where they chose to put Leclerc on the hard tires in unsuitable conditions. This cost the Monegasque a win as Verstappen breezed through the grid to win and extend his lead at the top.
Biggest Winner
It is hard to look past Max Verstappen. The reigning champion has looked mature and relaxed on track. More importantly, he has waited and been at the right place to pick up the pieces when Leclerc and Ferrari let things fall apart. A second consecutive title is on cards for the Dutch unless things change rapidly.
ABOVE: Check the interactive to review the 2022 season
What to expect from the second half?
With nine races left, Ferrari and Leclerc have left themselves a mountain to climb for the last stage. Lot of things have to go right for them to get back into contention. But stranger things have happened in F1.
ABOVE: Check the interactive to track how Verstappen pulled away from Leclerc. Hover or Press on the graph to track the point gap after a particular race.
Vettel’s farewell run-up is another thing F1 fans will be looking forward to. The German would love to sign off on a high.
Mercedes has forced itself into the conversation in the latter stage of the first half. Hamilton and Russell would be on the lookout to break the Red Bull’s and Ferrari’s duopoly over the top of the podium.
Finally, lets address Verstappen’s ascent to F1 greatness. Since his debut in 2016, the Dutchman has been talked up as someone who would dominate the sport for years.
Last season’s win did take a weight off his shoulders, but the controversial circumstances in which he acquired the title might still be hanging in the back of his mind.
Thus, it will be all the more important for the Red Bull racer to win the championship - no questions asked - this time.
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