The controversy of the 2021 season finale still feels like it just happened yesterday, but here we are – on the brink of a new era in F1. New circuits, new cars, and brand-new rules are going to make this upcoming season an entirely new game.
But when every millisecond counts, it’s important to choose the right driver to drive your car.
What driver pairings can we expect for the 2022 Formula One season? Here are some takeaways from each team including their 2022 salaries (taken from Spotrac) and highlights from last season.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team
Lewis Hamilton – $40,000,000
George Russell – $5,000,000
The legend of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes transcends Formula One. However, recent speculation suggests that Hamilton might be retiring following his controversial loss in the last race of the 2021 season, where he was a lap away from winning his 8th driver’s championship. For now, his future with the team is unclear.
George Russell has been promoted to the other Mercedes seat following Bottas’ move to Alfa Romeo. Fans expect him to match the brilliance of Hamilton after already showing his ability at the Sakhir Grand Prix in 2020 – almost winning the race despite some mishaps.
2021 season highlight: Won the constructor’s championship
Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen – $25,000,000
Sergio Perez – $8,000,000
It is never an easy task to be partners with Max. Sergio Perez came in as an unexpected strike partner and redefined the role of the number two driver. Red Bull is known as a team that develops drivers within their system, but it appears that they made the best choice taking in Perez. Anyone who is a fan of F1 fully expects Verstappen to always be in the hunt for a title, or even replace Hamilton as the sport’s top dog.
2021 season highlight: Verstappen won the driver’s title in the last race of the season
McLaren F1 Team
Daniel Ricciardo – $15,000,000
Lando Norris – $5,000,000
The scenario is a little tricky since the younger driver seems to be the actual number one of the team. Despite Ricciardo’s years of experience, Norris has been with the team for far longer and has shown the potential to be one of the sport’s greats. The team will surely be a strong contender if both drivers are on top form and work as partners with clearly defined roles.
2021 season highlight: 1-2 result in Monza
Scuderia Ferrari
Charles Leclerc – $12,000,000
Carlos Sainz Jr. – $10,000,000
The team is finally on the rise after the dismal 2020 season and features one of the most talented partnerships for this year. The performance of Sainz last year exceeded all expectations, perhaps even surpassing them. Leclerc, however, is still one of the best on the grid despite recent struggles and we all know that he is capable of delivering moments of pure brilliance in the most clutch situations.
2021 season highlight: Four podium finishes for Sainz
Scuderia AlphaTauri
Pierre Gasly – $5,000,000
Yuki Tsunoda – $750,000
We have been spoiled by how good Gasly has been in the last few seasons. He has finally emerged from the shell of the Red Bull fiasco and is ready to take the team to a whole new level. Tsunoda, on the other hand, has been promising but needs more experience if he is ever expected be at Gasly’s level.
2021 season highlight: Gasly podium in Baku
Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team
Sebastian Vettel – $15,000,000
Lance Stroll – $10,000,000
Despite some strong outings for both drivers, their overall consistency is still in question after their first season in green. Vettel has been a great team leader, but fans are left to wonder if he still has it in him to get more out of the car. Stroll is in his 6th season and also has the potential to break out.
2021 highlight: Vettel podium in Baku
Alpine F1 Team
Fernando Alonso – $20,000,000
Esteban Ocon – $5,000,000
The relationship between F1 legend Alonso and Ocon has been unexpectedly positive. They have worked well together and have consistently pushed each other to get the best result for the team. If they get more improvements to the car’s performance, this pairing could really sneak up behind the others.
2021 season highlight: Ocon wins in Hungary
Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN
Valterri Bottas – $10,000,000
Guanyu Zhou – $1,000,000
Two new drivers line up for the team after Raikkonen’s retirement; one is Valterri Bottas fresh from his stint at Mercedes while the other is known pay driver Guanyu Zhou. Safe to say that fans wanted F2 champion Oscar Piastri to take the last place on the grid, but they will have to keep an open mind for now and see how Zhou performs in the top flight. Chance for Bottas to show how good he is as the number one driver of the team.
Uralkali Haas F1 Team
Mick Schumacher – $1,000,000
Nikita Mazepin – $1,000,000
The expectations are low for the team as the car will always be a backmarker, but Mick Schumacher is a bright spot with his reliable driving. He could get the team a possibility for a single point if he manages to improve on his rookie year. Mazepin, however, has been erratic last season and should improve to give the team a chance.
2021 season highlight: Mick Schumacher
Williams Racing
Alex Albon – $2,000,000
Nicholas Latifi – $1,000,000
Plenty of speculation around Albon’s return to the grid. Can he rebuild his career through Williams? His performance will surely be compared to how Russell did against Latifi in the previous seasons.
2021 season highlight: Russell podium in Spa + 8th in constructors
