At the start of the 2022 season, we invited RaceFans readers to give their verdict on which drivers are in each of the 10 Formula 1 teams.
With the season behind us, a look at the final results shows that our readers correctly predicted how the seven battles would turn out. But the scorelines showed a surprise against three teams – all in the front half of the field.
Who came out on top in each group – and which drivers surprised our readers by passing their teammates.
Red bull
Prediction: 96% of readers expect Verstappen to finish ahead Result: Verstappen 454 – 305 Perez
Unusually for Max Verstappen, he hasn’t always found it easy to get the most out of Red Bull’s new car at the start of the season. Sergio Perez was the first to put him on the bench – a feat he had never achieved before in his career.
However, normal service resumed fairly quickly. According to team principal Christian Horner, both drivers set their best times ever. However, Verstappen’s record of 15 grand prix wins, including breaking his team-mate’s record, was slightly better.
Ferrari
Prediction: 54% of readers expect Sainz to finish first Result: Leclerc 308 – 246 Sainz
In the year Second place in the 2021 final saw Carlos Sainz Jr. beat Charles Leclerc in his first season of the season. That surprised many of our readers, who overwhelmingly voted for Leclerc to come out on top.
Many of you seem to have reconsidered your views on the pair during the off-season, and Sainz was narrowly voted top scorer ahead of the start of the 2022 campaign. However, he did not enter with Ferrari’s new car at the beginning, and while both drivers suffered from Ferrari’s technical problems and strategy errors, Leclerc maintained his dominance this time.
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Mercedes
Prediction: 69% of readers expect Hamilton to finish ahead Result: Russell – 275 – 240 Hamilton
In the year Even more surprising than Mercedes’ sudden fall from grace in 2022 was George Russell beating his new seven-time world champion team-mate. However, a strong minority of our readers clearly suspected that the newcomer would give Lewis Hamilton a run for his money.
Russell led Hamilton to six races in a row earlier in the year. Hamilton took one more podium from his teammate but was unable to overturn that deficit. Russell may be stacked on that scale, but he took both Mercedes pole positions and, more importantly, their only win this year.
Alpine
Prediction: 80% of readers expect Alonso to finish ahead Score: Ocon 92 – 81 Alonso
Like Hamilton, Fernando Alonso was rarely outdone by his team-mate (fittingly, they ended the season tied for points). So Esteban Ocon’s credentials as a two-time champion this year don’t hurt.
But how far was that in terms of benefits and how far was the consequence of Alpine’s mistrust? While Alonso was quick to point out the car’s many failures, often at least favorable times, Ocon did sometimes crash on the A522. But it must be said that Alonso was the same.
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McLaren
Prediction: 84% of readers expect Norris to finish ahead Result: Norris 122 – 37 Ricciardo
Ahead of the 2021 season, new McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo was hotly tipped by our readers to finish ahead of his junior team-mate. But Lando Norris emphatically dominated, while Ricciardo Monza won.
Heading into this season, RaceFans readers took notice: 84% of you tipped Norris to win, and fittingly, McLaren showed Ricciardo the door with a year left on his contract. Did anyone see that coming nine months ago?
Alfa Romeo
Prediction: 93% of readers expect Bottas to finish ahead Result: Bottas 49 – 6 Zhou
Alfa Romeo’s new driver lineup combines a highly experienced, multiple race winner with a complete newcomer. Obviously, Valtteri Bottas was widely favored to beat Zhou Guanyu, and that’s what happened. However, Zhou upped his game as the season went on with some convincing performances. This may be very close next year.
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Aston Martin
Prediction: 89% of readers expect Vettel to finish ahead Result: Vettel 37 – 18 walk
Despite missing the first two races of the season, Sebastian Vettel once again bested his team-mate at Aston Martin. That was no less than our readers expected, and Lance Stroll has no reason to expect an easy time next year when Alonso takes over another Aston Martin.
Hass
Prediction: 67% of readers expect Magnussen to finish ahead Result: Magnussen 25 – 12 Schumacher
Unlike last year, the Haas drivers had a faster car to score points. Once Kevin Magnussen was installed in place of the ousted Nikita Mazepin, as our readers rightly assessed, Mick Schumacher’s chances were not good here.
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Alpha Taurie
Prediction: 95% of readers expect Gasly to finish ahead Score: Gasly 23 – 12 Tsunoda
Yuki Tunoda’s second season in F1 was a clear improvement from his first and he made Pierre Gasly loyal. But our readers’ pre-season prediction that Gasly would score a lot of points has never been in serious danger.
Williams
Prediction: 89% of readers expect Albon to finish ahead Result: Albon 4 – 2 Lafi
Nicolas Latifi was spared the ignominy of ending his season as the only full-time driver to fail to score points with a daring tire change in 9th place in Japan. This was a huge relief, as not only had Alexander Albon already scored points for Williams, but so had his position on Nick de Vries.
Williams have already confirmed that Latifi is not part of their 2023 plans this time around.
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to you
Which team fights have produced unexpected results this year? And which ones are affected by insecurities, strategic errors, and other opportunities?
Give your opinion in the comments.
2022 F1 season
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