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With the 2022 F1 season done and dusted and the year coming to a close, it's time to look back and reminisce about how things were at the start of the season. Not many would have expected the season to pan out the way it did.
Red Bull's domination of the field was unprecedented, and it's safe to say that the drop in quality from Mercedes wasn't expected either.
Before the start of the 2022 F1 season, we had thrown our hat in the ring and shared our predictions for the season. So, how did we fare in our predictions? Let's find out.
Our official predictions for the 2022 F1 season: Review
Biggest Disappointment (Team)
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Our Pick: Williams
2022 Verdict: Mercedes
While Williams did drop from 8th to 10th this season, it was nothing compared to Mercedes dropping their worst F1 season since 2012.
Williams surely did not cover themselves in glory but Mercedes have to be considered the most disappointing team this season.
Scorecard: 0/1
Biggest Disappointment (Driver)
Our Pick: Sergio Perez
2022 Verdict: Daniel Ricciardo
Sergio Perez was much better this season compared to his first season with Red Bull, only narrowly missing out on P2.
Daniel Ricciardo, however, had a disastrous season. The driver ended up with less than one-third of the points scored by his teammate Lando Norris and was unceremoniously shown the door by McLaren as well.
The Australian will be taking a sabbatical next season but will surely not be happy with his performances in 2022.
Scorecard: 0/2
Most Improved (Team)
Our Pick: Haas
2022 Verdict: Alfa Romeo
Haas has been a good contender for the most improved team over the course of the season. The team was a perennial backmarker last season but was able to transform that perception to become a midfield contender this year.
Having said that, away from the spotlight, Alfa Romeo had a quietly impressive season after a disappointing 9th place finish last year. Climbing to 6th in the championship and beating teams like Aston Martin and AlphaTauri is no minor feat.
If we compare the jump Haas made this season (10th to 8th) with what Alfa Romeo managed (9th to 6th), Alfa Romeo takes the cake here.
Scorecard: 0/3
Most Improved Driver
Our Pick: Charles Leclerc
2022 Verdict: Esteban Ocon
Leclerc proved this season that given a competitive car, he can compete for the title, and it was an improvement from 2021 when he was outscored by Carlos Sainz.
However, what Esteban Ocon was able to accomplish this season should not be overlooked. Not many young drivers have managed to maintain their respectability after being paired with Fernando Alonso.
Esteban Ocon made major strides this season and surprised quite a few with his performances, rising from 11th to 8th in the standings.
Scorecard: 0/4
Biggest Surprise of the season
Our Pick: Sebastian Vettel retires from F1
2022 Verdict: Sebastian Vettel retires from F1
This was one prediction we would have preferred to be wrong about. Unfortunately, we weren't. The four-time world champion has retired from F1 after an illustrious career.
Scorecard: 1/5
Surprise win
Our Pick: Fernando Alonso
2022 Verdict: No one
This season, unlike 2021, there was no room for upsets as the top 3 teams maintained a stranglehold on the podium.
Scorecard: 1/6
Surprise podium
Our Pick: Mick Schumacher
2022 Verdict: Lando Norris
At the time, Norris securing the podium at Imola did not appear to be much of a surprise as McLaren had secured a few in 2021. But as the season unraveled, it became clear that the top 3 teams were just too far ahead for the midfield to make any impression.
Scorecard: 1/7
Constructors' champion
Our Pick: Ferrari
2022 Verdict: Red Bull
With a better driver lineup at Ferrari's disposal, there was an expectation that the team might be able to win its first championship since 2008.
As the 2022 F1 season progressed and Ferrari started dropping behind, it became clear that there wasn't much that the drivers could have done as the team was just not ready to compete for the title.
Scorecard: 1/8
Drivers' champion
Our Pick: Max Verstappen
2022 Verdict: Max Verstappen
There were some serious doubts about Max Verstappen's ability to compete for the title after the first three races of the season. The reigning F1 champion suffered two DNFs in the first three races and things weren't looking good.
However, the 25-year-old was able to turn things around from that point and ended up with the most dominant F1 season in history.
Scorecard: 2/9
The Final Scorecard
There's not much to be said in our defense after a poor showing in the predictions. We were only able to make 2 out of 9 predictions correctly. (Yes, that is embarrassing)
However, we probably got the two most important ones right as we predicted a Sebastian Vettel retirement and a Max Verstappen championship. All in all, this was a fun little exercise and we're hoping to revisit it next season.
