#formula 1 2022

[makeagif]

Charles Leclerc during the 2022 FIA Prize Giving ceremony at Bologna Fiere, on December 9, 2022 in Bologna, Italy.

[paddockanalysis]

🏆 2022 - Total Domination

Main post! 2020 2021 2023 2024

The 2022 Formula 1 season marked a new era, with a major overhaul of technical regulations aimed at promoting closer racing. This reset the playing field, offering teams a fresh opportunity to innovate. Red Bull Racing, led by Adrian Newey, rose to the challenge, producing the formidable RB18. Coupled with Max Verstappen’s flawless driving, this season became a showcase of dominance.

The RB18: A Technical Masterpiece

The RB18 exemplified a well-rounded approach to the new regulations. Red Bull’s design prioritized aerodynamic efficiency and straight-line speed, leveraging ground effect to its fullest potential. While Ferrari initially appeared to match Red Bull’s pace with their F1-75, the RB18’s superior tire management and adaptability across a variety of circuits gave Verstappen a decisive edge.

Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Pérez, had a strong start to the season, including a victory in Monaco. However, as the car's development evolved to suit Verstappen’s driving style—favoring a sharper front end and a more oversteer-prone setup—Pérez’s competitiveness waned. By mid-season, Verstappen consistently outperformed his teammate, securing Red Bull’s position at the top of both championships.

A Rocky Start and Turning Point

Verstappen’s season began with challenges. Retirements in Bahrain (fuel pump issue) and Australia (fuel system failure) put him on the back foot while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc surged ahead. However, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola marked a critical turning point. Verstappen’s Grand Slam (pole, sprint win, fastest lap, and race victory) underscored Red Bull’s growing superiority. This performance set the tone for the remainder of the season.

Key Races: Moments of Dominance

Spanish GP: Verstappen’s resilience was on display as he overcame early issues, including a trip into the gravel and DRS failures, to secure victory. Red Bull’s superior strategy and teamwork helped Verstappen capitalize on Ferrari’s errors, including Leclerc’s untimely engine failure.

Belgian GP: Starting 14th due to power unit penalties, Verstappen delivered one of the most dominant performances of the modern era. He scythed through the field with remarkable efficiency, taking the lead by Lap 12 and winning by over 17 seconds. This race highlighted not only the RB18’s straight-line speed but Verstappen’s ability to extract maximum performance in any scenario.

Japanese GP: In chaotic, rain-soaked conditions, Verstappen claimed victory and sealed the championship with four races to spare. His mastery of wet-weather racing and the RB18’s balance shone through, while Ferrari struggled with operational missteps.

Championship Sealed in Japan

Verstappen clinched his second World Championship at Suzuka under controversial and chaotic circumstances. The race, shortened by torrential rain, was initially unclear in awarding full points. However, a stellar performance by Verstappen—dominating the event despite the challenging conditions—left no doubt about his superiority.

Comparison with Ferrari and Mercedes

Ferrari: Initially the only team capable of challenging Red Bull, Ferrari’s title bid was undone by reliability issues (e.g., power unit failures in Baku and Spain), driver errors, and questionable strategic calls. Charles Leclerc, while often fast in qualifying, struggled to maintain consistency over the race distance, particularly against Verstappen’s superior tire management.

Mercedes: The W13 was plagued by porpoising early in the season, leaving them unable to challenge consistently. Despite significant progress by the season’s end, exemplified by George Russell’s win in Brazil, Mercedes were not in contention for most of the year.

Teammate Comparison: Verstappen vs. Pérez

While Sergio Pérez played a crucial role in Red Bull’s Constructors’ Championship, his performance paled in comparison to Verstappen’s. Pérez excelled in street circuits (e.g., Monaco win) and defensive driving (notably in Abu Dhabi 2021), but his pace and consistency diminished as Red Bull tailored the RB18’s development toward Verstappen’s preferences. Verstappen ended the season with 15 wins compared to Pérez’s 2, a stark indicator of the gap between the two drivers.

Why Verstappen Excelled

Technical Prowess of the RB18: The car excelled across diverse circuits, from the high-speed straights of Monza to the tight corners of Monaco.

Driver Adaptability: Verstappen adjusted to the ground-effect regulations and developed a driving style that maximised the RB18’s potential.

Tire Management: The car’s efficiency allowed Verstappen to push when needed while preserving tires in key stints.

Strategic Excellence: Red Bull's pit wall consistently outmanoeuvred competitors, ensuring Verstappen was always in a position to maximize points.

Legacy of the 2022 Season

By the season’s end, Verstappen had shattered records, including the most wins in a single season (15)—breaking the previous record held by Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel—and the most points scored (454). This year was defined less by head-to-head battles and more by an exhibition of excellence. Verstappen and Red Bull operated in near-perfect harmony, leaving rivals far behind and setting a new benchmark for dominance in modern Formula 1.

Please don’t copy my work🙏

[essie060]

f1 christmas icons with 2022 secret santa

[tyrannosaurus-maxy]

slow mo miami max

[iamred-iamyellow]

this is what you stole from me

[countingstars-17]

austin gp 2022: charles drives at sunset // brazilian gp 2023: max drives during a storm

austin gp 2024: charles wins on a sunny day // brazilian gp 2024: max wins on a rainy day

[le-stappen]

I'm obsessed with how they pronounce the word Österreichring (Max with the correct German pronunciation and Charles just winging it) 🤣

[jullythevamp]

so fun seeing people go crazy for the gabico helmet pic (as yall should) bc that was me almost 3 years ago with britcedes in são paulo 22

like look at them.

[kb9-ships-mistercriky]

when you're not really looking for lestappen photos, but lestappen photos find you!

[souvenir116]

The way he couldn't take his eyes off Max, not even for a second...

[waterisnotreal0]

danish dazed

pairing: oscar piastri x fem!reader

c/w: none. oscar overthinking/yearning despite this being their first meeting.

summary: oscar meets you at a quiet boba café, stumbling through the interaction, flustered by your quiet confidence. he swears he’s only coming back for the danishes—but even he doesn’t believe it.

a/n: a little drabble cuz i don’t think im gonna be very active this summer. i’ll add a moodboard/cover photos for this later. i don’t really like this bc it was really rushed lol.

word count: 1.2k

oscar, is a clean-polite-calm-organized time of person. you, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. messy handwriting, dirt on your baggy jeans, scuffed converse, always with a bleeding nose and chipped nail polish.

you had just turned 15, and he was 15 and a half when you both had first met, in a boba café out of all places. hattie had begged oscar to take her to it (she had exclaimed that her friends gave her a sip of the drink they got it, and it was “to die for. like literally it was so good.”) and he just got so annoyed at her nagging that he finally caved in & took her. 

the café was quiet, and empty. probably cause it was a Thursday night, and everyone is always busy on summer Thursday nights. you were sweeping up the floor, despite it looking clean. and when you heard them enter, you looked up, smiling at hattie.

“wait a sec guys, i’ll be right with you.” you had announced to them, sound cutting through the silence. your voice hoarse as if you had a screaming match last night.

he looks at you, with grey sweatpants and a black top that fits your build a little too perfectly.

he frowns to himself, why is he thinking about that? he’s better than that.

you quickly put the broom away, and went to the back to wash your hands (the manager had made it clear that customers loved when you wash your hands before taking their order) and sang the alphabet hurriedly while scrubbing your hands.

5 minutes later, you’re at the cash register. looking down at hattie, who you assumed was going to take the order.

“what would you like to order?” you smile at her, and even though it wasn’t directed at him, oscar swears his heart just stopped.

and as hattie loudly reads offers her order, probably the same drink her friend had told her about, he can’t help but notice things about you.

like the way your fingers are tapping into the counter (although he can’t tell if it’s out of anxiousness or annoyance or or hyperactivity or or or something else.)

he also notices the way your nails are painted with all sorts of colors — neon pink, dark green, baby blue, vibrant yellow — and he wonders if they have meanings or if there was just a buy one get one free discount at the store.

he slowly traces up from your fingers to your face, but not very subtly he figures because your eyes meet him when he finally reaches them. you’re smiling, like you know something he doesn’t. or maybe there’s something on his face. 

“would you like something?” you ask him, in the same loud hoarse voice — and even if it isn’t the most elegant, it makes oscar’s heart melt a little. — tilting your head a bit. 

he’s caught off guard. he was so busy noticing you that he didn’t even notice you were talking to him,  and now he’s left mouth-open, scratching his neck. standing there, awkwardly.

it seems that hattie notices, so she steps in for him.

“he would like a danish tart.” she says, in between giggles. as if she knows what he’s thinking. or maybe, oscar thinks, that he’s not as subtle as he hoped.

“alright.”  and you chuckle. a low chuckle, — like it’s just so funny but you don’t wanna be caught laughing. — and he smiles at the fact that he’s the one that caused it. 

but just as suddenly as it came, it quickly disappeared. turned into dust. like how a magician pulls a rabbit out of his hat, except it’s the opposite.

you’re reading the total cost of the order, but it’s all a haze to him because he can’t stop thinking about laughter. how it slipped from your mouth like honey, like a secret that he wants to keep locked up in a heart necklace. how easy it was to make you smile, how he would love to only hear that sound for the rest of his life. 

he feels hattie nudge him, looking up at him smiling, like a ‘kick me’ sticky note is glued to his back.

he’s pulled out of his gaze, and quickly gives you two 30 dollar bills. that is double the actual price. and you don’t fail to point it out.  

“uhh — the actual price is A$31. you just handed me two of ‘em.” you look up at him, smiling in disbelief. 

at the sight of your smile, oscar can’t help but stutter a bit, “oh — yes, yes. my apologies.” and he feels heat creep up his neck as he grabs the extra note.

you look down back to hattie, “your order will take 16 minutes, go ahead and take a seat while you wait.” shaking your head smiling, as you turn towards the kitchen to make the drink.

it’s 13 minutes later when you call their order, and oscar can’t help but tell himself that maybe you rushed to finish the order just for them. maybe she sees him as more than an awkward customer.

you hand the drink to hattie, exclaiming “here’s the drink for the missus.” smiling softly at her, hand wrapped around the plastic see through cup.

and then you turn to oscar, that stupid grin that he’s already come to love on your face again.

“and a danish for the mute” you remark, passing the pastry that’s wrapped with a soft tissue.

and for a brief moment, your hand brushes against his. his heart stutters, his breath hitches and his finger twitches a bit. but then it’s gone. slipping through his fingers, both literally speaking and figuratively.

he gazes up towards you, but he doesn’t notice anything different in your expression. your eyes are looking towards his sister instead, looking curiously. and he starts to wonder if he imagined the whole ordeal, or maybe you just don’t care to notice something as trivial as fingers sliding past each other. he hopes to god or whatever that is up there that you just didn’t notice out of the same of it and not that you don’t care.

hattie leads the way out of the store, grabbing him by his sleeve as he lazily (and totally not because he doesn’t wanna not see you. totally because he doesn’t want to get to know you more, what school you go to. totally 100% definitely not.)

and when he looks up briefly, he trips up just a bit because he finds that you're smiling at him, waving goodbye to him, to him.

when hattie and him are walking home, the sun casts a ray of orange and pink light across the sky as it sets. and he’s slowly biting at the danish, thinking about you when hattie stops sipping her drink and declares, “you like her.” no hint of uncertainty in her voice.

“i do not. i was nice to her, and she was kind to me.” he faux defends, although it sounds like he’s trying to convince himself more than hattie.

for the rest of the walk home, hattie teases him relentlessly about it.

but he’s not paying attention to her, or the words she’s saying.

he’s instead thinking about how this summer he’s definitely going to go to the café to buy more danishes and totally not to just see you.

[makeagif]

Charles Leclerc during the 2022 FIA Prize Giving ceremony at Bologna Fiere, on December 9, 2022 in Bologna, Italy.

[toro5ainz]

Excuse me. SIR. What the fuck?

[itslyssthenerd]

Nobody:

F1TV commentators during FP1 and FP2: 2022 Charles and Max had a beautiful battle

[stolenbuckets]

From taking each other out in Jeddah and almost a second time in Monza during the 2022 F2 Season to being treated the same shitty way by the Team you were a Junior of, once loved and adored like no one else. Jack Doohan & Logan Sargeant bffism would've been so strong that's why the Lord made them distant Workplace fellows.

[countingstars-17]

charles driving at sunset in austin vs max driving into the storm in brazil