With a new era in F1 technical regulations, who are the top 5 drivers after 10 Grand Prix events in the 2022 season?
After what was a thrilling and dramatic ending to the spectacular 2021 Formula 1 season, 2022 brought in scores of new fans worldwide and a new set of regulations. With every team heading a bit into the unknown with the new designs 2022 has seen a shuffling of the standings, car failures as teams test the limits, and exciting racing. The new regulations allow for the cars to follow closer and have an improved chance of overtaking. Following the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, F1 in 2022 has seen four different race winners, seven drivers on the podium, and all ten teams scoring points. So who have been the top 5 drivers in Formula 1 so far this season?
The Top 5 Drivers in Formula 1 So Far in 2022
5 – George Russell
After three seasons driving for Williams, Russell made the big move up the order to join Mercedes. The reigning Constructors’ champions have struggled for much of 2022 with bouncing and competing with the top two team’s straight-line speed. Russell however has outperformed the car and has been the pinnacle of reliability finishing in the top five every single race until Silverstone. George has landed three podiums and sits 5th in the Drivers’ Championship ahead of his legendary teammate Lewis Hamilton.
4- Carlos Sainz
As part of a resurgent Ferrari team this season, Sainz has seen the full spectrum of results. After opening the season with two podiums, incidents and failures forced him out of the next two Grand Prix events. He rebounded quickly finishing 3rd, 4th, and 2nd in the following weeks to bring him back into the Championship race. It was then disappointment with another failure in Baku before coming agonizingly close to his first win in Canada. Instead, he would have to wait another round and his 150th race. Silverstone brought Sainz’s first pole position of the year, a thrilling race, and finally his first-ever F1 victory. Sainz now has 6 podiums and sits 4th in the standings.
3 – Sergio Perez
As many have discovered in recent years, it’s not easy to be the 2nd driver for Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen. After a solid 2021 finishing 4th in the standings and picking up a race win in Baku, Perez took the start of 2022 looking to help Red Bull secure the Constructors’ Title and prove he could challenge at the very top of the sport. While he has suffered two DNFs so far this season, Perez hasn’t finished worse than 4th when he’s managed to complete the race. A pole in Saudi Arabia, 6 podiums, and a win in Monaco have Sergio 2nd in the standings. His ability was on full display at the British Grand Prix where he suffered minor damage in the opening laps, was forced to pit early dropping him towards the back of the field, before managing to climb back up into 2nd place.
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2 – Charles Leclerc
It was a perfect start to the season for Ferrari’s top driver winning twice and finishing second. With two DNFs by Verstappen in the opening rounds, Leclerc was the Championship frontrunner and looked like the final product in Ferrari’s desire to once again return to prominence. A spin in Imola cost him a podium, two failures, and a costly pit strategy mistake by his team derailed his momentum and cast doubts on Ferrari’s ability to consistently give Leclerc a title-challenging car. Back-to-back top-five finishes keep Leclerc 3rd in the standings but all of his best work came in the opening months of the season. Two wins, four podiums, and six poles (leads F1) have shown he has the potential to challenge for the title, but first, he and Ferrari must avoid costly errors.
1 – Max Verstappen
We’ll keep pushing to come back stronger in our home race in Austria, can’t wait to see the support by the Orange Army 🇦🇹👊 pic.twitter.com/utOk8ukC6m
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) July 3, 2022
After winning the 2021 Championship, Verstappen entered 2022 as the favorite following preseason testing. Red Bull delivered the best car in the field at the start of the new regulations, but reliability issues prevent Max from finishing in two of the opening three rounds. He responded with five wins over the next six races to come storming back to take the lead in the Drivers’ Championship. Once in the lead Verstappen is near impossible to catch, or even pass, this season. Leading at Silverstone, Verstappen ran over debris suffering a punctured tire and damage to his car. While his performance was hampered he managed to hold on to 7th place securing points and maintaining a clear lead in the title race. With six wins, seven podiums, and two poles, back-to-back championships look well within Verstappen’s hands, as does the first-team title for Red Bull in nine years.
Formula 1 next heads to the Austrian Grand Prix on July 10th.
