Formulation 1 returns to motion on the Belgian Grand Prix (August 27-29) after a four-week summer season break for the primary of 9 occasions in simply 13 weeks that can shut out the 2022 season.
Autoweek breaks down among the key questions for the rest of the season.
When Will Verstappen Wrap It Up?
They’ll’t all be classics. Final 12 months’s title battle wasn’t determined till the final lap of the final race (and even then, it rumbled on for some time).
This 12 months’s championship chase is unquestionably a case of when, not if, given the energy of Max Verstappen and Crimson Bull, and Ferrari’s propensity to self-combust—a personality trait that exhibits little signal of abruptly ceasing.
Verstappen is 80 factors away from a fading Charles Leclerc. In F1, that translate to just about a three-event lead, with 9 to play. Resulting from Dash and fastest-lap factors, right here’s the benefit wanted to wrap it up after the next Grands Prix. Brazil: 26 factors, Mexico: 60 factors, Austin: 86 factors, Japan: 112 factors. Maybe Ferrari will defy current conference and strike again, take it to Abu Dhabi, and arrange one other tantalizing showdown. However that’s unlikely.
Verstappen isn’t going to chuck it away. And at the very least this one gained’t have an asterisk subsequent to it.
Autoweek Prediction: Get the champagne prepared for both Austin or Mexico—they had been the scene of Lewis Hamilton’s runaway triumphs in 2017-19.
Can Mercedes, Hamilton, Proceed Streak?
By no means earlier than has Lewis Hamilton returned from Formulation 1’s summer season break nonetheless winless in a season.
His document of taking a victory in every of his F1 seasons courting again to his rookie 12 months in 2007 has seemed in peril ever for the reason that early Grands Prix revealed deep weaknesses inside Mercedes’ W13, whereas Hamilton was off the tempo as he took on the majority of experimental set-up work.
Nevertheless, the pre-recess races supplied optimism for the Mercedes camp. Hamilton claimed three straight thirds and a pair of seconds, and on two events—Britain and Hungary—might have gained if the playing cards had fallen barely in a different way. The Security Automobile in Britain thwarted a possible race-winning technique whereas in Hungary he began solely seventh after a DRS subject in a session brilliantly topped by team-mate George Russell. The youthful Briton backed up Hamilton in race trim in France and Hungary to offer Mercedes successive double podium outcomes.
There’s even the prospect of Mercedes reeling in Ferrari for second place within the Constructors’ Championship; the hole is simply 30 factors.
Autoweek’s Prediction: Given current kind Mercedes will certainly be in rivalry at extra grands prix throughout the ultimate 9 occasions. Hamilton ought to choose up one win from that run.
How Will the Alpine/McLaren Battle Play Out?
Alpine and McLaren entered the summer season hiatus break up by 4 factors of their pursuit of fourth within the championship.
Each groups maintain long-term title aspirations however neither have made the leap ahead to recommend that’s sensible simply but, with Alpine seemingly caught in a without end hinterland and McLaren regressing from a peaky 2021 marketing campaign. They continue to be separated by solely 4 factors however now there may be an intriguing potential for needle each between the 2 groups and throughout the separate camps, following the state of affairs surrounding Oscar Piastri.
McLaren and Daniel Ricciardo are absolutely headed for an costly divorce whereas Fernando Alonso and Alpine each know the following 9 races are a swansong and ‘El Plan’ won’t ever be realized. Because the groups proceed to develop, and make plans for 2023, departing drivers is not going to be a part of these discussions.
Autoweek’s Predictions: Drivers and groups are skilled, although the preliminary environment could also be a bit of tense. Alpine has a quicker automotive, and two drivers scoring frequently, so ought to inch additional clear.
Can Haas Make a Leap with Massive Improve?
Haas was nonetheless capable of rating factors with its launch-spec automotive effectively into the season. It held off on updates, selecting to convey one massive improve, relatively than little and infrequently per most rivals. That got here in Hungary, for Kevin Magnussen, with the VF-22 strikingly akin to Ferrari’s F1-75.
That’s no shock, as workforce principal Guenther Steiner brazenly admitted that Ferrari’s automotive acted as inspiration, simplified by working the identical PU/gearbox and so forth.
Hungary was all about understanding, studying and gathering knowledge, which might be helpful for the remainder of 2022 and past. Mick Schumacher ought to get the automotive too from Belgium, with its efficiency, and Haas’ utilization of the bundle, essential whether it is to retain seventh within the standings—or possibly reel within the ailing Alfa Romeo for sixth.
Autoweek’s Prediction: Understanding, after which exploiting, the improve bundle is a giant take a look at for Haas given its struggles in 2019—when it final actually introduced updates to a Formulation 1 automotive. For that purpose, resisting AlphaTauri ought to be its primary ambition.
Can Retiring Vettel Get One Final Shining Second?
The second half of the season might be a farewell tour for Sebastian Vettel, who will bow out after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The four-time World Champion has scored 53 victories and 122 podiums however has needed to accept diminishing returns lately amid Aston Martin’s struggles. This 12 months Aston Martin is simply ninth within the standings, with Vettel’s finest consequence a wonderful sixth in Azerbaijan, however its AMR22 has proven extra promise in current races.
The first weak spot has been the automotive’s lack of one-lap velocity, leaving Vettel and Aston Martin dealing with too steep a restoration in race trim, and unable to use the efficiency it believes is within the automotive. Vettel raced from 18th to ninth in Britain and from 18th to tenth 18thHungary; qualify increased up the grid and that can make Sunday considerably smoother.
Autoweek’s Prediction: Unlikely. Nevertheless, in a loopy race something might occur. Singapore and Japan have typically been joyful searching grounds for Vettel, so preserve a watch out for him there by way of pure efficiency, although we’re speaking a haul of factors not podiums.