Ryan Brolly

The 2022 Formula One season saw a significant change to the sport’s aerodynamic rules which required teams to alter their car models going into the new season. These changes promised closer racing, more intense battles and greater entertainment.

While it would be hard to replicate the excitement of the 2021 World Drivers’ Championship battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, the 2022 season did have its highlights; from Verstappen spinning in Hungary only to grab a commanding victory, to the unlikely story of HAAS’ Kevin Magnussen gaining his and his team’s first pole position at Interlagos as well as George Russell’s maiden win in Brazil.

In this three-part series, I’ll be taking a closer look at each team's season, analysing how they performed throughout the year in order of how they finished in the constructor’s championship. First up, it’s Red Bull and Ferrari.

Red Bull

There is not a lot more to say other than Red Bull absolutely dominated the track in 2022. After a slow start in Bahrain where they faced a double DNF pointing to problems with their new power unit (this was designed by Red Bull Powertrains in their first year without Honda), the Austrian outfit were able to get back on track quickly, resolving the issues to win an astonishing 17 races out of 22.

Of those, 15 came from the best driver on the grid, Max Verstappen. He put in many storming victories over his rivals and clinched the World Drivers’ title for the second year in a row at the Japanese Grand Prix with four races to spare, emphasising his dominance. Verstappen’s supremacy must not overshadow the importance of Sergio ‘Checo’ Perez, who gained two wins of his own alongside 11 podium finishes throughout the year.

One of the best defensive drivers on the grid, he is integral in solidifying this Schumacher and Barrichello-like dynamic within the team which has proved to be so successful in the past. Trouble may be brewing for the champions next year however, as Red Bull did controversially breach the FIA cost cap regulation by £1.86 million, which has resulted in a penalty of a 10 per cent reduction in wind tunnel time. This may make it more difficult for a second Constructors’ title in a row in 2023 and harder for Verstappen to make it three on the bounce next season.

Ferrari

A promising start from the prancing horse in Bahrain with a 1st and 2nd finish, which gave fans the impression we could have another close title fight on our hands, but their early promise began to fade quickly. Ferrari favourite Charles Leclerc was the undoubted king of qualifying throughout the year but was unable to translate this into victories when it mattered, through a mixture of reliability issues and poor strategy decisions from the Ferrari pit wall.

These factors resigned a world champion-quality driver in a fast car to only three wins all year. Poor strategy and reliability also hampered Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. Yet, Sainz had his own issues with a lot of driver error resulting in DNFs at the beginning of the season. He did however manage to grab his maiden win in Silverstone showing that, with confidence, he can also be a race winner.

The Ferrari pit wall was questioned countlessly throughout the year with confusing decisions of when to pit alongside wrong tyre choices that upset the drivers. Something had to change and it was team principal Mattia Binotto facing the repercussions as he is leaving the position ahead of next season. Ferrari are in prime position to grab their first title since 2008 next season, and with a wounded Red Bull, they may only have Mercedes to deal with.

Ryan Brolly is a History and International Relations student at Queen’s University Belfast and a Sport Reporter for The Scoop.

Formula One Season Review: A team by team breakdown of performance during the year