2022 Assessment: Who won the duels between teammates?

Red Bull: Verstappen the master

• Race: Verstappen 15-4 Perez
• Qualifications: Verstappen 18-4 Perez
• Points: Verstappen 454 – 305 Perez

Ranking: Verstappen 1st – Perez 3rd.

*NB: Only races where both drivers have been classified are counted.

2022 was his year: 15 victories, 17 podiums, a second world title with a 146-point lead over his runner-up, Max Verstappen was untouchable. The Dutchman dominated a season where Red Bull had the best car on the track. Established as the clear number 1 within the team, he had no competition from Sergio Perez.

The Mexican was an efficient number 2, dedicated to serving his leader, even if the latter did not always reciprocate. Perez ultimately finishes with two victories and eleven podiums: impressive stats that do not hide the disappointment of finishing third in the championship behind Leclerc’s Ferrari. Much more will need to be done to achieve his dream of becoming world champion.

Ferrari: Leclerc asserts himself as number 1

• Race: Leclerc 7-7 Sainz
• Qualifications: Leclerc 16-6 Sainz
• Points: Leclerc 308 – 246 Sainz
• Ranking: Leclerc 2nd – Sainz 5th

They appeared as the perfect duo in 2021: Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had displayed excellent harmony and a similar level in their first season together. However, in 2022, the gap has widened, and Leclerc has shown that he can establish himself as the number one that Ferrari requires. With a strong start to the season, he even believed he could fight for the title, until he started making mistakes (both on his part and especially from his team).

Despite a bitter second place in the championship, the Monegasque driver outrageously outperformed his teammate. Carlos Sainz (one victory and nine podiums) especially showed his limits in qualifying compared to a supersonic Leclerc (nine poles, season record). In 2023, Sainz will need to better tame his car in order to genuinely challenge his teammate.

Mercedes: Russell stands up to the legend.

• Course: Hamilton 9-11 Russell
• Qualifications: Hamilton 12-10 Russell
• Points: Hamilton 240 – 275 Russell
• Classement: Hamilton 6th- Russell 4th

After the cruel outcome of the 2021 season, we wondered in what mental state Lewis Hamilton would arrive in 2022. The Briton was partnered with George Russell, who arrived to succeed Valtteri Bottas. The seven-time world champion wasted no time in showing that he had not lost any of his motivation by securing a podium in his first race in Bahrain.

But unlike Bottas, George Russell has shown that he had what it takes to challenge Lewis Hamilton. Monstrously consistent (15 top 5 finishes in the first 16 races), the former Williams driver even secured his first victory in Brazil towards the end of the season. He finishes 35 points ahead of an unlucky Hamilton at the start of the season, and shows that at 24 years old, the future belongs to him.

Alpine: Tight and tense until the end.

• Race: Alonso 8-8 Ocon
• Qualifications: Alonso 13-9 Ocon
• Points: Alonso 81 – 92 Ocon
• Ranking: Alonso 9th – Ocon 8th

We had high expectations for Alpine in 2022, and the French team delivered by taking fourth place in the championship. However, with no podium finishes, Alpine couldn’t aim any higher. Solid and supportive in 2021, Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso had very different seasons.

Always closely matched in terms of performance, the two drivers saw their relationship deteriorate over the season, reaching a point of no return. On track, Esteban Ocon finishes one place ahead of his teammate in the standings, but the double world champion has been unlucky, despite some impressive moments (especially in Canada).

McLaren: Norris too lonely.

• Race: Norris 14-4 Ricciardo
• Qualifying: Norris 19-3 Ricciardo
• Points: Norris 122 – 37 Ricciardo
• Ranking: Norris 7th – Ricciardo 11th

Nothing should be taken away from Lando Norris’ excellent season, but the young Briton didn’t face the expected adversity. Daniel Ricciardo went through 2022 just like he did in 2021: like a ghost, except for the standout performance in Monza. Norris clearly dominated him, both in races and in qualifying, scoring nearly four times as many points. It wasn’t even a competition at McLaren.

Alfa Romeo: Bottas as the mentor of rookie Zhou.

• Race: Bottas 10-3 Zhou
• Qualifications: Bottas 13-9 Zhou
• Points: Bottas 49 – 6 Zhou
• Ranking: Bottas 10th – Zhou 18th

The numbers may seem tough for many drivers, but Guanyu Zhou nevertheless had an encouraging first season. The Chinese driver had an experienced competitor in Valtteri Bottas, a double vice-world champion. The Finnish driver played his role as a leader, scoring points for Alfa Romeo, while Zhou learned and still showed some solid performances in qualifying. The duo will be partnered again in 2023, and for his second season in F1, the Chinese driver will have to do even better to compete with Bottas.

Aston Martin: Vettel one notch above

• Race: Vettel 9-8 Stroll
• Qualifications: Vettel 13-7 Stroll
• Points: Vettel 37 – 18 Stroll
• Ranking: Vettel 12th – Stroll 15th

Aston Martin had two seasons in one. Initially, they were far behind at the beginning of the season, but the former Racing Point team bounced back and performed much better in the second half of the year. In that regard, Sebastian Vettel came out on top by dominating Lance Stroll in both qualifying and the race.

The German, who has just retired, even scored twice as many points as the Canadian, showing who was number one at Aston Martin. Stroll, on the other hand, had a very average season and only finishes fifteenth in the championship.

Haas: Schumacher, the disappointment

• Race: Magnussen 6-10 Schumacher
• Qualifications: Magnussen 15-7 Schumacher
• Points: Magnussen 25 – 12 Schumacher
• Ranking: Magnussen 13th – Schumacher 16th

37 points for Haas, it’s a very good season for the American team, so far behind in 2021. The return of Magnussen proved to be paying off, and the Danish driver brought in two-thirds of his team’s points. Very strong in qualifying, he also generally outperformed his teammate in the races, especially in the first part of the season when the car was competitive.

The lack of development certainly hampered the performances of both drivers, but Mick Schumacher overall disappointed. The young German only entered the points twice in 22 races: a meager record compared to Magnussen’s six entries. This second season in Formula 1, with mixed results, cost him his place at Haas.

AlphaTauri: Gasly still number 1.

• Race: Gasly 8-5 Tsunoda
• Qualifications: Gasly 13-9 Tsunoda
• Points: Gasly 23-12 Tsunoda
• Ranking: Gasly 14th – Tsunoda 17th

AlphaTauri, ranking ninth, is one of the major disappointments of the season. Red Bull’s little sister never found the formula to perform and only scored a measly 25 points. Pierre Gasly, known for his brilliant moments, had a lackluster season, stuck in the middle of the pack, but he still comfortably outperformed his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda.

The Japanese driver showed some great things, and made progress compared to his first season, but his lack of consistency took away his chances of beating his teammate. In terms of experience, Gasly scored nearly twice as many points and outperformed Tsunoda in both qualifying and race.

Williams: Albon crushes Latifi

• Race: Albon 13-1 Latifi
• Qualifications: Albon 18-4 Latifi
• Points: Albon 4 – 2 Latifi
• Ranking: Albon 19th – Latifi 20th

As expected, there was no competition at Williams. Alexander Albon, returning to Formula 1 after a year-long break, dominated Nicholas Latifi. Unfortunately, the Canadian showed that he doesn’t have the level for Formula 1. Despite the meager six points scored by the Grove team, Albon consistently outperformed his teammate in both races and qualifying. It’s a small consolation for the two drivers at the bottom of the standings.