In 2021, there were 21 drivers who competed in at least one race. In 2022, that symmetry continued with Nico Hulkenberg and Nyck de Vries getting to race for Sebastian Vettel and Alexander Albon, respectively.
So as 2022 comes to a close, it’s time to look back all 22 drivers and offer a telling stat for each that encapsulates their season during the 73rd running of the Formula 1 world championship.
Max Verstappen
Most wins in a season (15), most points ever scored in a single season (454) and first driver in 40 years to match John Watson’s record of multiple victories in a season from tenth or lower on the grid
Sergio Perez
As well as his first pole and taking multiple wins in a season for the first time in his career, Perez managed to score 40% of Red Bull’s total points in 2022 – an increase over 2021, where his share was only 32.45%
Leclerc’s nine pole positions throughout the 2022 season were the most any Ferrari driver has taken since Michael Schumacher secured pole 11 times in 2001. Only Niki Lauda in 1974 took as many poles for Ferrari but failed to win the title
Carlos Sainz Jnr
Third place became Sainz’s position in 2022. He started third more than anyone else (seven times), finished third five times and spent more laps in third than any other driver (328). He also became the second Spanish driver ever to win and take pole in F1
George Russell
In his first season at Mercedes, Russell achieved what only Alonso has ever done before – finished ahead of Hamilton at more races (11) than Hamilton beat him (9) – including his Brazil win
Lewis Hamilton
As well as going winless for the very first season in his career, Hamilton also went without a pole position for the first time, only starting from the front row once in Brazil
Esteban Ocon
Ocon equalled his best ever championship position in eighth and set his highest points tally. But despite finishing ahead of Alonso, he was out-qualified by him 12-9 and spent 177 more laps behind him over the year
Fernando Alonso
Alonso retired from more races due to car failure than any other driver in 2022. He retired five times from his car breaking down and was eliminated from Imola due to damage after being hit by Mick Schumacher
Lando Norris
Norris took ‘best of the rest’ honours as highest-placed midfield driver eight times in qualifying and eight times in grands prix and took the only midfield podium of the year in Imola
Daniel Ricciardo
Only managed an average finishing position of 11.6 – the biggest deficit to his team mate of any driver on the grid (Norris: 7.8)
Bottas lost more places on the opening lap than any other driver in 2022, dropping a total of 35 combined places over the first laps of the 22 rounds
Zhou Guanyu
With only six points, Zhou accounted for only 10.9% of Alfa Romeo’s total points tally – the lowest contribution of any driver relative to their team mate
Sebastian Vettel
The final season for Vettel was his first as a full-time driver in which he failed to stand on the podium. After missing the first two rounds with Covid, Vettel missed out on joining the exclusive club of drivers who started 300 grands prix by just one race
Lance Stroll
No one was better than sniping the final point this season than Stroll. Of his eight finishes in the points, six of them came from Stroll finishing in tenth
Kevin Magnussen
Magnussen took his first career pole in the Brazil sprint race and the first for Haas. He became the 106th driver to sit on pole in F1 and, at the age of 30, the oldest first-time pole winner since Mark Webber in 2009 (32)
Mick Schumacher
Schumacher’s two points finishes in 2022 were the fewest top ten appearances of any driver on the grid, bar Nicholas Latifi, and only one more than Nyck de Vries, who made a single start
Pierre Gasly
Gasly’s ten superlicence penalty points gained between the Spanish and Mexican GPs were the most any driver has accrued across the same timespan since the system was introduced in 2014, putting him at risk of a race ban
Yuki Tsunoda
No driver was investigated by the stewards as frequently as Tsunoda in 2022. He was investigated for a total of 16 incidents – 13 driving related and three for exceeding power unit component limits
Alexander Albon
On his way to scoring a surprise point in Melbourne, Albon’s 57 laps on the same set of tyres was the greatest race distance ever covered on a set of dry Pirelli tyres (300.846km)
Nicholas Latifi
Latifi spent 966 laps in positions 16-20 this season – more than double that of any other driver. He only spent 16.36% of his 1,155 racing laps inside the top 15 positions across 22 rounds
Nico Hulkenberg
While he didn’t score points in his two races, Hulkenberg did extend his own record for most races without a podium to 181
Nyck de Vries
As well as scoring points on his unexpected debut with Williams at Monza, De Vries drove two different cars in the same weekend – the first since Harald Ertl in Monza 1978
I always liked Perez not Super quick but a pleasant competent No.2 driver who I feel deserved his role at Red Bull, but I am afraid I was more than shocked at his frightful ‘unsportsmanlike behaviour’ at holding up Lewis to benefit his most sporting charming illustrious supremo thereby foolishly compromising his own comparative meagre performance and I can only say that I fully support said ‘sporting genius’ in treating him with the contempt he deserved in subsequent situations.
Were you impressed with Lewis holding up Nico hoping the opponent will crash into him?
Talking on Abu-Dhabi 2021, Lewis had only himself to blame for allowing Perez to counterattack him in a car 2 seconds per lap (if not more)slower. No chance a driver of Verstappen or Alonso’s caliber would allow that to happen. On top of that, Perez was fighting for his position, same as in Turkey, where Lewis spent numerous times behind much slower Tsunoda in similar manner, totally hopeless behind.
With great respect to you, you paint Max and Alonso as Goliaths of F1 ruthless and of supreme skill and Lewis this hopeless can do nothing who lucked into a top team
May I bring to your attention Russia 2021 where Max took the engine penalty and worked his way up to seventh where he remained stuck lap after lap until the rain came. Then he pitted when other elected to stay out and that yielded him a podium. What about his pirouette in Turkey 2020 when trying to pass Checo. I thought you said no chance a driver if Max’s calibre would allow that to happen.
Oh and our main man Alonso. Remember the radio message Felipe Fernando is faster than you. Why was he hopelessly stuck behind Felipe and needed team orders to help him win the race. Oh yes I forgot he is of a certain calibre that Lewis is not, right?
There is something with hamilton that doesn’t convince me in the wheel to wheel fight, like he doesn’t try hard enough to defend even when a win is at stake (at the risk of crashing both out) like in austin this year or abu dhabi last year, I feel like verstappen would’ve done more to defend in situations reversed, in both cases, and I admire that more.
However there’s no way to be sure how they would really compare unless they were put in the same car, which brings us back to 2007, a super debut season for hamilton where he was at alonso’s level.
You have exposed yourslef as an F1 newbie then if you are not convinced of Hamilton in wheel to wheel. I suggest you watch from 2006 and up. With the 2014 regs with heavier cars and hybrid engines that takes hours to change. Hamilton publicly made a concious decision not to risk damaging his car. That’s why he drives thr way he does. He’s arguably the grestest wheel to wheel if you watch earlier videos of him.
If you mean Hamilton doesn’t weave about under braking, crash into other cars deliberately or basically drive to cause an accident then yes he doesn’t do that like some other “top” drivers. Hamilton is the fairest wheel to wheel racer on the grid yet still pulls off great moves every year.
Overall Lewis skills are up there with the best, but rightfully I would label his wheel to wheel as weakest of his set. Still maybe above 60% of the field, but within his total skill set his weakest part imho.
True, Ham just comes across as a bit desperate during defence and attack.
I don’t think he’s the smartest knife in the tool shed, confirmed by his constant confusion to his engineer about strategy and tyres, so he always seems a bit pushed beyond his limit.
Its probably the thing that will always hold him back from being regarded as a true great like a Schumacher, Alonso and Verstappen.
Nyck de Vries drove for Williams at Monza, Mercedes and Aston Martin in practice sessions, Alpine and Alpha Tauri in tests. So he drove for half the teams on the grid in one season.
Alfa Romeo seemed to have a major problem with their launches this season. Both Bottas and Zhou lost places on most of the first laps this season if I’m correct. Generally Bottas losing more as he was further up the grid.
Although Bottas wasn’t great last year in Mercedes either off the line at times.
Nico Hulkenberg is on course to reach the magic number of 209 which is one more start than Andrea DeCesaris who did stand on a podium but never won a race
We accept the fact that we had to sacrifise a whole spring in these cars. But you are crazy to limit our freedom to speak. You see us as you want to see us. In the simplest terms. In the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a Lion..
.. A National Hero..
.. A Saviour..
.. A Smooth Operator..
.. A Rising Star..
.. A Legend..
.. A New kid on the block..
.. A Honey Badger..
.. A World class driver..
.. A french lion..
.. A Sauna guy..
.. A Chinese dragon..
.. A Wonder kid..
.. A Breeze from north..
.. A Instagram star..
.. A fighter..
.. A Danish Viking..
.. A Legends son..
.. A Thai Bull..
.. and a Nutella lover..
22 telling stats? No, I’d say they were 22 bits of trivia, interesting but not in any way telling. Stats in sport tend to be over-rated and often misused. Some sports, like baseball, have used stats really constructively to work out better strategies, but they are working with hundreds of data points and hundreds of players. Saying Stroll finished six times in tenth place, for example, isn’t a “stat”, and in itself it doesn’t reveal anything telling about him or the other drivers.
Jeffrey Powell
24th December 2022, 9:11
I always liked Perez not Super quick but a pleasant competent No.2 driver who I feel deserved his role at Red Bull, but I am afraid I was more than shocked at his frightful ‘unsportsmanlike behaviour’ at holding up Lewis to benefit his most sporting charming illustrious supremo thereby foolishly compromising his own comparative meagre performance and I can only say that I fully support said ‘sporting genius’ in treating him with the contempt he deserved in subsequent situations.
Stan (@)
24th December 2022, 10:39
Were you impressed with Lewis holding up Nico hoping the opponent will crash into him?
Talking on Abu-Dhabi 2021, Lewis had only himself to blame for allowing Perez to counterattack him in a car 2 seconds per lap (if not more)slower. No chance a driver of Verstappen or Alonso’s caliber would allow that to happen. On top of that, Perez was fighting for his position, same as in Turkey, where Lewis spent numerous times behind much slower Tsunoda in similar manner, totally hopeless behind.
Ipba
24th December 2022, 18:55
With great respect to you, you paint Max and Alonso as Goliaths of F1 ruthless and of supreme skill and Lewis this hopeless can do nothing who lucked into a top team
May I bring to your attention Russia 2021 where Max took the engine penalty and worked his way up to seventh where he remained stuck lap after lap until the rain came. Then he pitted when other elected to stay out and that yielded him a podium. What about his pirouette in Turkey 2020 when trying to pass Checo. I thought you said no chance a driver if Max’s calibre would allow that to happen.
Oh and our main man Alonso. Remember the radio message Felipe Fernando is faster than you. Why was he hopelessly stuck behind Felipe and needed team orders to help him win the race. Oh yes I forgot he is of a certain calibre that Lewis is not, right?
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
24th December 2022, 21:11
There is something with hamilton that doesn’t convince me in the wheel to wheel fight, like he doesn’t try hard enough to defend even when a win is at stake (at the risk of crashing both out) like in austin this year or abu dhabi last year, I feel like verstappen would’ve done more to defend in situations reversed, in both cases, and I admire that more.
However there’s no way to be sure how they would really compare unless they were put in the same car, which brings us back to 2007, a super debut season for hamilton where he was at alonso’s level.
DonSmee (@david-beau)
24th December 2022, 22:53
You have exposed yourslef as an F1 newbie then if you are not convinced of Hamilton in wheel to wheel. I suggest you watch from 2006 and up. With the 2014 regs with heavier cars and hybrid engines that takes hours to change. Hamilton publicly made a concious decision not to risk damaging his car. That’s why he drives thr way he does. He’s arguably the grestest wheel to wheel if you watch earlier videos of him.
slowmo (@slowmo)
25th December 2022, 8:28
If you mean Hamilton doesn’t weave about under braking, crash into other cars deliberately or basically drive to cause an accident then yes he doesn’t do that like some other “top” drivers. Hamilton is the fairest wheel to wheel racer on the grid yet still pulls off great moves every year.
Mayrton
25th December 2022, 10:10
Overall Lewis skills are up there with the best, but rightfully I would label his wheel to wheel as weakest of his set. Still maybe above 60% of the field, but within his total skill set his weakest part imho.
superman
25th December 2022, 11:58
True, Ham just comes across as a bit desperate during defence and attack.
I don’t think he’s the smartest knife in the tool shed, confirmed by his constant confusion to his engineer about strategy and tyres, so he always seems a bit pushed beyond his limit.
Its probably the thing that will always hold him back from being regarded as a true great like a Schumacher, Alonso and Verstappen.
F1 frog (@f1frog)
24th December 2022, 9:52
Nyck de Vries drove for Williams at Monza, Mercedes and Aston Martin in practice sessions, Alpine and Alpha Tauri in tests. So he drove for half the teams on the grid in one season.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
24th December 2022, 21:13
That’s kinda impressive!
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
24th December 2022, 11:36
Alfa Romeo seemed to have a major problem with their launches this season. Both Bottas and Zhou lost places on most of the first laps this season if I’m correct. Generally Bottas losing more as he was further up the grid.
Although Bottas wasn’t great last year in Mercedes either off the line at times.
Sumedh
24th December 2022, 12:51
The Albon stat, while impressive isn’t the longest distance covered oh a set of Pirelli slicks.
Rosberg in 2014 Russian GP holds the record. He pit due to a flat spot on lap 1 and didn’t stop again – 303.897 km
Jonathan Parkin
24th December 2022, 13:20
Nico Hulkenberg is on course to reach the magic number of 209 which is one more start than Andrea DeCesaris who did stand on a podium but never won a race
Qeki (@qeki)
24th December 2022, 20:31
Dear Mr. Bin Sulayem
We accept the fact that we had to sacrifise a whole spring in these cars. But you are crazy to limit our freedom to speak. You see us as you want to see us. In the simplest terms. In the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a Lion..
.. A National Hero..
.. A Saviour..
.. A Smooth Operator..
.. A Rising Star..
.. A Legend..
.. A New kid on the block..
.. A Honey Badger..
.. A World class driver..
.. A french lion..
.. A Sauna guy..
.. A Chinese dragon..
.. A Wonder kid..
.. A Breeze from north..
.. A Instagram star..
.. A fighter..
.. A Danish Viking..
.. A Legends son..
.. A Thai Bull..
.. and a Nutella lover..
Does that answer your question?
Sincerely Yours The class of ’22
AlanD
25th December 2022, 0:10
22 telling stats? No, I’d say they were 22 bits of trivia, interesting but not in any way telling. Stats in sport tend to be over-rated and often misused. Some sports, like baseball, have used stats really constructively to work out better strategies, but they are working with hundreds of data points and hundreds of players. Saying Stroll finished six times in tenth place, for example, isn’t a “stat”, and in itself it doesn’t reveal anything telling about him or the other drivers.