As 2022 takes the chequered flag and a new year begins, there’s no better time to look back at the year that was on RaceFans.
From the biggest stories of the year to all of RaceFans’ exclusive interviews and our driver rankings list for Formula 1, F2, F3, Formula E and IndyCar, there’s is plenty to look back on as 2022 comes to an end.
The biggest stories of 2022
This year was a memorable one for major stories in Formula 1. From Haas dropping their sponsor and driver due to the invasion of Ukraine and hiring back Kevin Magnussen to Sebastian Vettel’s surprise retirement and Red Bull being punished for breaching the 2021 budget cap, there were many memorable stories that broke this year. Here are the biggest stories.
Mike Krack named new Aston Martin F1 team principal
Norris signs new McLaren deal extending his contract to 2025
Bahrain Grand Prix extends F1 contract to 2036
Szafnauer named Alpine team principal in management shake-up
Haas to remove Russian colours and Uralkali branding from car
Formula 1 terminates Russian Grand Prix contract
Mazepin loses F1 seat as Haas confirm termination of Uralkali sponsorship deal
F1 extends deal to race at Imola until 2025
Haas announce Magnussen as second race driver for 2022
F1 confirms new Saturday night race in Las Vegas from 2023
Ericsson repels last-lap attack from O’Ward to win Indianapolis 500
Alonso to join Aston Martin in 2023 on “multi-year” deal
Alpine confirm Piastri to make F1 race debut in 2023
Piastri makes shock announcement he will not debut in F1 with Alpine next year
McLaren confirm early exit for Ricciardo at end of season
Audi confirms 2026 F1 entry as engine manufacturer
Drugovich crowned F2 champion despite sprint race retirement as Vips wins
Power clinches second IndyCar title as Palou takes dominant Laguna Seca win
Sky extends deal to broadcast F1 live in UK until 2029
Sargeant to drive for Williams in 2023 if he gets superlicence – Capito
Red Bull clinch their first constructors’ championship since 2013
Red Bull fined $7 million and lose development time for 2021 budget cap breach
Binotto resigns as Ferrari team principal after team falls short in title fight
Formula 1 cancels Chinese Grand Prix for fourth year due to Covid
Zandvoort extends deal to host Dutch Grand Prix until 2025
Williams team principal Capito and technical director Demaison step down
Seidl leaves McLaren for Sauber, Stella takes his place
Vasseur confirmed as Binotto’s replacement at Ferrari
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
RaceFans exclusive interviews
With experienced journalist Claire Cottingham joining RaceFans for 2022, there were many opportunities to speak one-on-one with the drivers through the season.
From world champion Max Verstappen to Lando Norris, Valtteri Bottas and more, here are all the RaceFans exclusive interviews from this season…
‘I belong with Verstappen, Leclerc, Russell and Norris’ – Pierre Gasly exclusive interview
Exclusive: Albon on his successful return at Williams and learning to be “more selfish”
Exclusive: Lando Norris on working to win with McLaren in 2024
Interview: Magnussen on comeback nerves and being a different kind of F1 father
Exclusive: How Verstappen’s “different mindset” unlocked his title-winning potential
Exclusive: Verstappen on racing outside F1, ‘the show’ – and how to win a championship
“I was so hard on myself… it was difficult to deal with”: Bottas speaks to RaceFans
Exclusive: Zhou on closing the gap to Bottas and coming back stronger in 2023
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
F1 race reviews
After every grand prix, RaceFans’ race reviews tell a detailed story of how each race was won – or lost. Recap how each of the 22 rounds of this year played out with our full list of race reviews for the 2022 season.
Saudi Arabia – Verstappen’s racing savvy and Red Bull’s strategy deny Leclerc a second win
Australia – Leclerc emulates Schumacher with Melbourne grand slam as Verstappen lucks out again
Miami – Verstappen takes another win away from Leclerc to draw within striking distance
Spanish – Leclerc’s car trouble and two assists from Perez put Verstappen back on top
Monaco – Perez shows he’s no number two by mastering treacherous Monaco
Azerbaijan – Verstappen picks up the pieces in Baku as reliability paradigm shifts for Ferrari
Great Britain – Sainz seizes his chance for first win as rivals luck out on day of drama
France – Verstappen takes huge lead as Leclerc’s crash halts Ferrari’s fightback before it begins
Hungary – Verstappen and Red Bull’s tactical masterclass humiliates Ferrari in Hungary
Belgium – Verstappen awaits coronation as crushing Spa win makes second title a formality
Netherlands – Dutch delight for champion-in-waiting as Red Bull see off their new main threat
Italy – Verstappen grabs fifth straight win as Ferrari find beating him “impossible” at home
Singapore – Cool-headed Perez overcomes Leclerc – and the stewards – for Singapore win
USA – Verstappen brings joy to bereft Red Bull team by delivering constructors’ title
Mexico – How Mercedes failed to make Verstappen fight for his record 14th win
Brazil – Russell banishes memory of lost Sakhir win with breakthrough triumph in Brazil
Abu Dhabi – Verstappen smokes his rivals one last time as Vettel goes out fighting
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
F1 driver rankings
For a second consecutive year, Max Verstappen topped RaceFans’ driver rankings for the 2022 season. Check out the full grid ranking for the season from 20 all the way to the world champion at number one.
2022 F1 driver rankings #20: Nicholas Latifi
2022 F1 driver rankings #19: Daniel Ricciardo
2022 F1 driver rankings #18: Mick Schumacher
2022 F1 driver rankings #17: Yuki Tsunoda
2022 F1 driver rankings #16: Zhou Guanyu
2022 F1 driver rankings #15: Lance Stroll
2022 F1 driver rankings #14: Pierre Gasly
2022 F1 driver rankings #13: Alexander Albon
2022 F1 driver rankings #12: Kevin Magnussen
2022 F1 driver rankings #11: Valtteri Bottas
2022 F1 driver rankings #10: Carlos Sainz Jnr
2022 F1 driver rankings #9: Sergio Perez
2022 F1 driver rankings #8: Esteban Ocon
2022 F1 driver rankings #7: Sebastian Vettel
2022 F1 driver rankings #6: Lewis Hamilton
2022 F1 driver rankings #5: George Russell
2022 F1 driver rankings #4: Fernando Alonso
2022 F1 driver rankings #3: Charles Leclerc
2022 F1 driver rankings #2: Lando Norris
2022 F1 driver rankings #1: Max Verstappen
RaceFans top 10 drivers of 2022 (other series)
- RaceFans’ Top 10 Formula 3 drivers of 2022
- RaceFans’ Top 10 Formula 2 drivers of 2022
- RaceFans’ Top 10 Formula E drivers of 2022
- RaceFans’ Top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2022: 10-6
- RaceFans’ Top 10 IndyCar drivers of 2022: 5-1
- Mercedes told me “you’re wrong” about 2022 car’s problems – Hamilton
- FIA confirms all 10 F1 teams complied with 2022 cost cap
- Steiner “not ashamed” of panning “slow” Schumacher in Drive to Survive
- Albon believes year out of F1 improved him as a driver
- Hamilton sees diversity gains in F1 years on from his ‘traumatising’ experience of racism
Beyond Formula 1, there were many outstanding drivers across FIA Formula 3, Formula 2, Formula E and IndyCar. Here, RaceFans ranked the ten best of each of the four major single-seater series outside of F1.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Qeki (@qeki)
31st December 2022, 19:37
“When you call happiness an enemy, then it’s too late. Then you’ve already lost.”
Qeki (@qeki)
31st December 2022, 19:48
Happy New Year to all!
Mayrton
2nd January 2023, 11:43
Happy new year to all and kudo’s to Racefans.net for an impressive coverage of the 2022 season.