Ferrari 2022 review: Progress and regrets
Second in the constructors' standings and a runner-up finish for Charles Leclerc, Ferrari has shown steady progress in recent seasons. But with a temperamental single-seater and some regrettable strategy problems, the results are mixed. Here's a look back at 2022 for the Scuderia.

Between victories, podiums, avoidable strategic errors, and reliability issues, Ferrari had a rollercoaster season in 2022. Nevertheless, the Scuderia Ferrari can be satisfied with the outcome of this season. They finished second in the constructor’s championship, while Charles Leclerc came second to the unwavering Max Verstappen. These are promising results, especially when compared to previous seasons. This season, Ferrari scored a total of 554 points, which is an improvement from 323.5 points in 2021 and a huge leap from 131 points in 2020. One could say that the Italian team has come a long way. However, the results throughout the season may leave a bitter taste for the entire team.
A temperamental F1-75.
If the F1-75 was considered the best on the grid after winter testing, the car however proved to be temperamental this season. Nevertheless, the season couldn’t have started better with a first double win in Bahrain. The Italian team was already asserting its ambitions and making a comeback to the forefront. The car was still lacking a bit of top speed to compete with Red Bull on the straights. After five races, Mattia Binotto showed a certain satisfaction. « I have always said that we had to wait for five races to evaluate the car’s competitiveness. These five races have already passed and we are leading both championships, so we shouldn’t be disappointed », the former team principal declared in front of the media. But things quickly became uncertain for Scuderia.
Second force on the grid, the car showed really good performances. Then, the development changed everything. Ferrari found itself widely surpassed by its Austrian competitor. To such an extent that the Italian team decided to halt the development mid-season to focus on the 2023 season. And this decision almost proved regrettable as Mercedes, initially far behind, almost caught up with Ferrari in the very end. It should be noted that the teams had a budget not to exceed, otherwise sanctions would be imposed. If only it were just a performance issue…
Reliability stains Ferrari’s season.
It’s not a surprise, Ferrari was far from being a role model in terms of reliability this season. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were not spared from engine problems. We all remember Charles Leclerc’s retirement in Spain when he was heading straight for another victory, or Carlos Sainz’s car bursting into flames in Austria. Another forgettable double blow for Ferrari and many lost points. The Italian team has a total of nine retirements (reliability and driver errors): six for the Spaniard and three for Charles Leclerc. For comparison, Red Bull retired five times and Mercedes only three times. That says a lot.
Questionable strategies
After several difficult seasons, Ferrari undoubtedly comes back from very far. In 2022, the team could have hoped for much better. However, in addition to reliability issues, Ferrari has developed strategies that are more than questionable this season. The Monaco Grand Prix is the perfect example. The rain made an appearance and Charles Leclerc started in pole position in front of his home crowd. A total misunderstanding between his engineer and him would change the course of this Grand Prix and the rest of the season for Ferrari. His engineer had asked him to come into the pits, but as he was about to enter the pit lane, he told him to stay on track, but it was already too late. The Monegasque driver had to wait behind his teammate in the pits. As a result, numerous seconds were lost and a podium finish was undoubtedly gone.
Several races could be mentioned where Ferrari messed up in its strategies (Monaco, Baku, Silverstone). And it’s a shame. The beginning of the Scuderia’s season was promising. We even believed that the team had learned from its mistakes. But no. Between the bad tire choices, the choice of number one driver, or even the failed pit stops, nothing was going well at times for the Italian team. The drivers’ performances at least made up for the team’s avoidable mistakes, allowing them to compete for podium finishes. Without these kinds of errors, it is clear that Ferrari could have aimed for the title once again.
Charles Leclerc, from dream to nightmare.
He believed in it. At least, at the beginning of the season. With four podium finishes, including two wins in the first five Grand Prix races, the Monegasque had started the season in the best possible way, or almost. Leading the championship ahead of Max Verstappen, the Ferrari driver began to dream of a world champion title. But reality was different. Although he made a mistake in Emilia-Romagna while trying to overtake Sergio Perez, the turning point of his season was still in Spain. While leading the race with a comfortable lead over his competitors, a motor problem destroyed Charles Leclerc’s race, forcing him to retire for the first time that season. The first of many. And the problems continued to pile up. In Monaco, Baku, France, Silverstone, the list is long, very long. The Monaco Grand Prix was certainly the key turning point. The Monegasque lost his first place in the standings and even saw Sergio Perez catching up to him.
For five races, the Monegasque failed to place on the podium. It took until Austria for him to be back on the top step of the podium. Charles Leclerc had a masterful race. Also worth noting, for once, Ferrari had a good strategy. But the French Grand Prix would put an end to his championship dream. Leading with a comfortable margin over his pursuers, he made another driving error that caused him to retire once again. This time, it was over. The title was more than just a distant memory. The few podium finishes towards the end of the season helped him secure the position of runner-up ahead of Sergio Perez, who had even surpassed him. But it was not until the last lap of the final Grand Prix that Charles Leclerc’s fate was determined. Between reliability issues, strategic and driving errors, the Monegasque did not have an easy season. With 308 points, Charles Leclerc finished as runner-up in the World Championship for the first time, far behind the Dutchman and his 454 points. The gap remains immense, and yet, there is no doubt that the Monegasque will learn from his mistakes to make his dream a reality. If Ferrari wants to win a title, they will have to rely on Charles Leclerc and not abandon him.
Teammate duel
A first victory in a race and a first pole position, it can be said that Carlos Sainz’s season is a success. In his second season with Ferrari, the Spaniard continues to improve. But, just like his teammate, he encountered some problems with his car, forcing him to retire six times. Despite the performance of his car, he could never match Charles Leclerc. Regularly beaten in qualifying and races, Carlos Sainz was mostly in a duel against the Mercedes. With 246 points in the drivers’ championship, he positioned himself in fifth place, behind George Russell and his 275 points.
Qualifications:
Charles Leclerc 15-7 Carlos Sainz
Classes:
Charles Leclerc 12-10 Carlos Sainz
On Charles Leclerc’s side, he has achieved nine pole positions for just three victories. It clearly isn’t enough to compete with Max Verstappen (15 victories). He simply needs to convert his qualifying prowess into actual results.
Despite the good performances in terms of the car, Ferrari had a mixed season. A season marred by reliability issues, but above all by strategies that brought back bad memories for the tifosi. This season, the Italian team finished second in the constructor’s championship with 554 points, far behind Red Bull’s 759 points. Nonetheless, it was a very good season for the Scuderia. Let’s not forget where the team came from after their nightmare season in 2020. With the arrival of Fred Vasseur to replace Mattia Binotto, Ferrari is taking a new gamble. And with the lessons learned this season, they are only a step away from achieving the ultimate goal.