2022 Formula One World Championship

Each team is required to field a driver who has not taken part in more than two Grands Prix in at least two sessions of Grand Prix weekends, one for each car entered in the championship. A number of drivers were entered at selected events to drive in free practice.[10]

Drivers that took part in free practice sessions during the 2022 World Championship

Constructor	Practice drivers
	Driver name	Rounds
Alfa Romeo-Ferrari[lower-alpha 3]	Robert Kubica[lower-alpha 4]  Théo Pourchaire	6, 12–13 19
AlphaTauri-RBPT	Liam Lawson	14, 20
Alpine-Renault	Jack Doohan	20
Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes	Nyck de Vries	16
Ferrari	Robert Shwartzman	19
Haas-Ferrari	Antonio Giovinazzi[lower-alpha 4]  Pietro Fittipaldi	16, 19 20
McLaren-Mercedes	Álex Palou	19
Mercedes	Nyck de Vries	12, 20
Red Bull Racing-RBPT	Jüri Vips	6
Williams-Mercedes	Nyck de Vries  Logan Sargeant	6 19–20
Source:[29]

Honda announced that they would not supply power units beyond 2021.[32] The company had provided power units to Scuderia AlphaTauri (previously called Scuderia Toro Rosso) since 2018 and to Red Bull Racing since 2019.[33] Red Bull Racing have since taken over Honda's engine programme and manage it in-house, under a new division called Red Bull Powertrains. The decision was made after lobbying the other nine teams to negotiate an engine development freeze until 2025. Red Bull Racing acknowledged that they would have left the championship if the engine development freeze had not been agreed to as they could not develop a brand new engine, and both Red Bull Racing and Renault were unwilling to resume their former partnership.[24][34][lower-alpha 5]

Zhou Guanyu (left) made his Formula One debut driving for Alfa Romeo. Nikita Mazepin (centre), who was originally going to compete for Haas, had his contract terminated amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Mazepin was subsequently replaced by Kevin Magnussen (right).

Fernando Alonso (left) broke Kimi Räikkönen's (right) record for the most race starts and race entries at the Singapore and Japanese Grands Prix, respectively.

Prior to the 2021 Dutch Grand Prix, Kimi Räikkönen announced his intention to retire at the end of the championship, ending his Formula One career after 19 seasons.[36] Räikkönen's seat at Alfa Romeo was filled by Valtteri Bottas, who left Mercedes at the end of 2021.[37] George Russell replaced Bottas,[38][39] vacating his seat at Williams which was filled by former Red Bull Racing driver Alexander Albon.[40]

Formula 2 driver Zhou Guanyu graduated to Formula One with Alfa Romeo, in place of Antonio Giovinazzi,[41] who left the team at the end of 2021.[42] Zhou became the first Chinese driver to compete in Formula One.[41]

Nikita Mazepin was originally due to compete for Haas for a second consecutive year. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resultant cancellation of Uralkali's title sponsorship, his contract was terminated.[43] He was replaced by Kevin Magnussen, who last competed in 2020 with the same team.[44]

Ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel tested positive for coronavirus. He was replaced at Aston Martin by reserve driver Nico Hülkenberg, who last raced at the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix, driving for former team Racing Point.[45] Vettel was also replaced by Hülkenberg at the subsequent Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.[46]

During the Italian Grand Prix weekend, Alexander Albon suffered from appendicitis. He was replaced at Williams by the Mercedes reserve driver 2020–21 Formula E and 2019 Formula 2 Champion Nyck de Vries, who made his Formula One race debut.[47]

• The Australian, Canadian, Japanese, and Singapore Grands Prix returned to the calendar after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[48]
• The Miami Grand Prix made its debut, with the race taking place at the Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida.[52]
• The Portuguese, Styrian, and Turkish Grands Prix were not included in the list of 2022 races. These Grands Prix were specifically added to the 2021 calendar in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure that as many races as possible could be held.[48]
• The Qatar Grand Prix, which made its debut in the 2021 championship at the Lusail International Circuit, is not present on the 2022 calendar. The Grand Prix is planned to return in 2023, originally scheduled to be moved to a new purpose-built circuit, after a one-year hiatus during which the country would focus on hosting the FIFA World Cup,[48][53] before being set to remain in Lusail.[54]
• The Chinese Grand Prix was under contract to feature on the 2022 calendar,[55] but was not included due to Chinese travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[48][1][2] The Grand Prix is due to return in the 2023 championship.[56]
• The Russian Grand Prix, which was scheduled to take place on 25 September as the 17th round of the championship, was initially suspended from the calendar in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine,[57] before being ultimately cancelled.[58] The Grand Prix was due to be replaced,[50] but that plan was later scrapped.[51]

Michael Masi, who had served as race director since the death of Charlie Whiting in 2019, was removed from the role of race director after an inquiry into the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. As part of a restructuring of race control, Masi was replaced by former DTM race director Niels Wittich and World Endurance Championship race director Eduardo Freitas. The pair have assumed the role on an alternating basis. Herbie Blash, Whiting's former deputy, was appointed as permanent senior advisor to the race director.[59]

The FIA also introduced a new virtual race control system, much like the video assistant referee in football, as well as a ban on team communications that lobby race officials. Radio between teams and FIA officials also is no longer broadcast on television in order to protect race officials. Unlapping procedures were reassessed by the Formula One Sporting Advisory Committee following the controversy of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and presented prior to the start of the season.[59][60][61]

Prior to the United States Grand Prix, the FIA abandoned the idea of rotating race directors, leaving Niels Wittich as the sole serving race director for the final four rounds of the championship. The rotation policy was not met with favourable reviews from drivers, as well as being in response to criticism of Eduardo Freitas's performance as race director at the Japanese Grand Prix.[62]

A conceptual 2022 Formula One car revealed at the 2021 British Grand Prix.

The Ferrari F1-75 at the Austrian Grand Prix.

The 2022 World Championship saw an overhaul of the technical regulations.[63][64] These changes had been planned for introduction in 2021, with teams developing their cars throughout 2020. The introduction of the regulations was delayed until the 2022 championship in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] Once the delay was announced, teams were banned from carrying out any development of their 2022 cars during the 2020 calendar year.[65] Prior to the season, the FIA said it anticipated that the car performance deficit between the fastest and slowest teams on the grid would be cut by half when compared to 2021.[66]

Drivers were consulted on developing the new technical regulations,[67] which were deliberately written to be restrictive so as to prevent teams from developing radical designs that limited the ability of drivers to overtake.[68] The FIA created a specialist Working Group, or committee of engineers, tasked with identifying and closing loopholes in the regulations before their publication. The elimination of loopholes will, in theory, stop one team from having a dominant car, and in turn allow for closer competition throughout the field while improving the aesthetics of the cars. This philosophy was a major aim of the new regulations.[69] Red Bull car designer Adrian Newey noted that the regulation changes were the most significant in Formula One since the 1983 season.[70]

The technical regulations reintroduced the use of ground effects for the first time since venturi tunnels under cars were banned in 1983.[71][lower-alpha 6] This coincides with a simplification of the bodywork, making the underside of the car the primary source of aerodynamic grip. This aims to reduce the turbulent air in the wake of the cars to allow drivers to follow each other more closely whilst still maintaining a similar level of downforce compared to previous years. Further changes to the aerodynamics are aimed at limiting the teams' ability to control airflow around the front wheels and further reduce the cars' aerodynamic wake.[72] This includes the elimination of bargeboards, the complex aerodynamic devices that manipulate airflow around the body of the car.[73] The front wing and endplates have been simplified, reducing the number and complexity of aerodynamic elements. The front wing must also directly connect to the nosecone, unlike pre-2022 designs where the wing could be connected to the nose via supports to create a space under the monocoque, thereby encouraging airflow under the car by way of the wing's larger surface area and the nose's increased height. The rear wings are wider and mounted higher than in previous years, with additional restrictions in place to limit the constructors' ability to use a car's exhaust gases to generate downforce. Figures released by the Working Group revealed that where a 2019-specification car following another car had just 55% of its normal levels of downforce available, a 2022-specification car following another car would have up to 86% of its normal levels of downforce.[74]

Teams have been further restricted in the number of aerodynamic upgrades they can introduce to the car, both over the course of a race weekend and over the course of the championship. These rules were introduced to further cut the costs of competing.[75][76] Following the decision to delay the 2021 regulations to 2022,[3] aerodynamic development of the cars was banned from 28 March 2020 to the end of 2020.[77][78]

In 2021, the championship introduced a sliding scale system to regulate aerodynamic testing. Under this system, the least successful teams in the previous year's World Constructors' Championship standings would be given additional time for aerodynamic testing. Conversely, the most successful teams would be given less time to complete testing.[79][80] The system was trialled in 2021 with the results used to create a more formal, structured and steeper model for the 2022 championship.[81]

The introduction of ground effect meant that cars that ride high off the ground get less benefit from aerodynamic ground effects, which translates to slower speed on the track.[82] Conversely, cars that run low to the ground gain maximum speed and benefits from this effect, but only up to the point where airflow under the car is interrupted. When ground effect is interrupted, a car experiences an aerodynamic stall, and the car lifts from the track surface. When airflow re-establishes, the car is pulled down again. When this effect occurs repeatedly, it is colloquially known as "porpoising".[82] Teams with low riding cars sometimes also experience "bottoming out", where tracks with uneven surfaces combined with a low ride height simply means the car's floor will scrape the track surface.[83] Bottoming out and porpoising can both cause significant forces readily felt by drivers; McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo described these as being "rattled" or "shaken".[84]

By June 2022, several drivers had raised concerns about the effects of both of these problems. Haas's Kevin Magnussen had complained of nerve issues, and both of Mercedes's drivers had complained of back pain.[84] As a result, the FIA decided that from the Belgian Grand Prix onwards a technical directive would be introduced to prevent cars from porpoising and bottoming out to an unsafe level following safety and legality concerns in the first half of the season. The FIA's proposal is for a specific addition to Article 3.15.8 of the technical regulations, addressing the flexibility of the plank underneath a car.[85] The changes were initially proposed to come into force at the French Grand Prix but were pushed back in order to give teams enough time to comply with the directive.[86]

Discussions over the 2022 engine regulations began in 2017 and were finalised in May 2018.[87][88] The proposed regulations involved removing the motor generator unit–heat (MGU-H) to simplify the technology used in the engine whilst raising the maximum rev limit by 3,000 rpm.[89] Further proposals dubbed "plug-and-play" would see engine suppliers bound by the regulations to make individual engine components universally compatible, allowing teams to source their components from multiple suppliers.[90] Manufacturers would also be subject to a similar regulation concerning commercially available materials as chassis constructors would be subject to from 2021. The proposals were designed to simplify the engine technology whilst making the sport more attractive to new entrants.[91] As no new power unit suppliers committed themselves to entering the sport in 2022, the existing suppliers proposed to retain the existing power unit formula in a bid to reduce overall development costs.[92]

The quota system of power unit components was continued in 2022, with teams given a limited number of individual components that can be used before incurring a penalty.[75]

Standardised components were introduced in 2022, with the technical regulations requiring standard components to be in place until 2024.[10] These standardised components include the gearbox and fuel system.[93][94] Some aerodynamic components—such as the tray that sits at the front of the car floor—will also be standardised so as to restrict teams' ability to develop the area and gain a competitive advantage.[74] Individual parts will now be classified as a way of clarifying the rules surrounding them:[74]

• "Listed parts" refers to the parts of the car that teams are required to design by themselves.
• "Standard parts" is the name given to the parts of the car that all teams must use, including wheel rims and equipment used in pit stops.
• "Transferable parts" are parts that a team can develop and sell on to another team, such as the gearbox and the clutch.
• "Prescribed parts" are parts that teams are required to develop according to a prescriptive set of regulations. Prescribed parts include wheel arches and wheel aerodynamics.
• "Open-source parts" may be developed collectively by teams and sold on to customers. Steering wheels and the DRS mechanism are listed as open-source parts.

The system of categorising parts was introduced to allow for design freedom as the overhaul to the aerodynamic regulations was highly prescriptive.[74]

Wheel diameter increased from 13 inches (33 cm) to 18 inches (46 cm). The 18-inch wheels were introduced into the Formula 2 Championship in 2020 to test changes in tyre behaviour.[95] It was originally proposed that the use of tyre warmers—electric blankets designed to keep the tyres at the optimal operating temperature when not in use—would be banned,[96] although this decision was later reversed after opposition from the tyre supplier Pirelli.[97] The temperature of the tyre blankets was reduced. Previously, the front tyres could be heated to 100 °C (212 °F), while the rears were at 80 °C (176 °F). Both dropped to 70 °C (158 °F) from the start of the season.[98] Tyre warmers will instead become a standardised piece of equipment, with all teams required to use the same product with a view to eventually phase them out altogether by 2024.[99] While Pirelli remain the official tyre partner and provider, BBS would partner and supply the rims to all Formula One teams from 2022 as part of a four-year deal.[100]

Having been first trialled under the name "sprint qualifying" in 2021, the format returned also for this championship with the name changed to "sprint". The weekend format will be unchanged from 2021 and will be run at the Emilia Romagna, Austrian, and São Paulo Grands Prix with points now awarded to the top eight finishers rather than the top three finishers as was the case in 2021. Unlike the previous season, the driver who sets the fastest time in qualifying will be credited as the official polesitter, with the winner of sprint continuing to have the right to start the Grand Prix from the first place grid spot.[101] The sprint was originally planned to appear at six Grands Prix before it was reduced to three in a compromise with teams, who wanted an increased cost cap for sprint races, to cover the cost of potential car damage.[102]

Following the controversy surrounding the awarding of points at the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, which was only run behind the safety car, the criteria needed for points to be awarded for uncompleted events was altered. The requirement was changed so that no points are awarded unless a minimum of two laps had been completed under green flag conditions. Additionally, in the event of a race that was suspended and could not be restarted, points would be awarded as follows:[103][104][105]

• If less than 25% of the scheduled race distance, points are awarded on a 6–4–3–2–1 basis to the top 5.
• If 25%–50% of the scheduled race distance is completed, points are awarded on a 13–10–8–6–5–4–3–2–1 basis to the top 9.
• If 50%–75% of the scheduled race distance is completed, points are awarded on a 19–14–12–10–8–6–4–3–2–1 basis to the top 10.
• If more than 75% of the scheduled race distance is completed, full points are awarded.

The previous criteria had been in place for over 40 years prior to the change, last being altered some time between the 1977 and 1980 seasons.[106]

Additionally, the fastest lap point is now awarded only if a minimum of 50% of the scheduled race distance is completed while ending up in the top ten.[105]

In light of the controversy surrounding the safety car at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the procedures for the safety car restart have been changed. Rather than waiting until the lap after the last car has unlapped itself from the leader, the safety car will now be withdrawn one lap after the instruction that lapped cars may unlap themselves has been given.[107] Additionally, the wording of the regulations was altered and now state that "all" cars rather than "any" cars will be allowed to unlap themselves, if deemed safe by the race director.[108]

From the Australian Grand Prix onwards, the FIA started clamping down on the kinds of tactics Max Verstappen employed during the final safety car restart at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and at subsequent safety car restarts at the first two rounds of the championship, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, where he aggressively accelerated, braked, and drew alongside another car during the restart, trying to seek a tactical advantage over rival drivers. Drivers are expected to drive in a consistent manner during race restarts.[109]

The rule that had been in place since 2014, requiring drivers that advance to the third segment of qualifying to start the race on the tyres they used to set their fastest time in the second segment of qualifying was scrapped. All drivers now have free choice of starting tyre for the race on Sunday at all events.[110]

In July, ahead of the 11th round, the Austrian Grand Prix, it was announced that the planned spending allowance of US$141.2 million would be increased by 3.1% after concerns that high inflation could lead to several teams spending over the originally planned budget cap.[111]

Due to the change in technical regulations, Formula One decided to hold two winter tests at two different tracks to help teams gather more data on their new cars, with Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmeló hosting the first on 23–25 February and Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir hosting the second on 10–12 March.[112]

Charles Leclerc took pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix. For the first time since the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix, both Haas drivers got through into Q2, with Kevin Magnussen qualifying 7th and Mick Schumacher 12th.[113] In the opening lap at turn 6, Alpine's Esteban Ocon touched the rear of Schumacher's car, spinning him round, and was penalised five seconds for the accident. AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly caught fire and retired on lap 46. Leclerc won the Grand Prix ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz Jr., making it a 1–2 finish for Ferrari. Magnussen finished 5th, while the Red Bull cars of Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez retired late in the race due to fuel issues.[114]

Pérez took pole position for the first time at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, while Mercedes's Lewis Hamilton claimed 16th place after being knocked out in Q1 for the first time since the 2017 Brazilian Grand Prix.[115] Only 18 drivers started the race, as Yuki Tsunoda's AlphaTauri broke down on the way to the grid after a suspected drivetrain issue,[116] and Schumacher was withdrawn from the event after a crash in qualifying;[117] he would return to racing in the next round.[118] Williams's Nicholas Latifi hit the wall at the final corner on lap 16, while Alpine's Fernando Alonso, McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo, and Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas retired after 38 laps due to technical problems.[119] Verstappen won the race after a late overtake on Leclerc.[120] Williams's Alexander Albon got a three-place grid penalty after the race for a collision with Aston Martin's Lance Stroll.[121]

Leclerc won the Australian Grand Prix from pole position, set the fastest lap, and led every lap, getting the first grand slam for Ferrari since Alonso at the 2010 Singapore Grand Prix.[122] Pérez and Mercedes's George Russell took second and third, respectively. Pérez's teammate Verstappen was running second before he retired on lap 38 due to fuel leaks causing a fire.[123] Sainz spun out on the opening lap at turn 10 and Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel, who made his season debut after missing the first two races as he tested positive for coronavirus with Nico Hülkenberg taking his place,[118] crashed out in the opening stages at turn 4.[122] Albon, who started last after he was disqualified from qualifying for failing to provide a one-litre fuel sample,[124] finished 10th for Williams, pitting on the last lap after running 57 laps on hard tyres.[125]

Verstappen took pole position for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix sprint. Despite Leclerc overtaking him at the start, Verstappen recovered, using DRS to overtake him and win the sprint, ahead of Leclerc and teammate Pérez. Verstappen won Sunday's Grand Prix from pole position to achieve the second grand slam of his career, while Pérez finished in second to give Red Bull their first 1–2 finish since the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix.[126] Leclerc ran in third for the most of the race but spun on lap 53, falling to ninth and promoting McLaren's Lando Norris to the final podium place. Leclerc would recover to eventually finish in sixth position. The result promoted Red Bull to second in the Constructors' Championship, and Verstappen to second in the Drivers' Championship,[127] with Leclerc's teammate Sainz suffering a second DNF in a row following a lap 1 collision with Daniel Ricciardo.[128]

Leclerc led Sainz for a Ferrari front-row lock-out for the first edition of the Miami Grand Prix.[129] Behind them were the Red Bull drivers, Verstappen and Pérez, and Alfa Romeo's Bottas.[130] Stroll and Vettel, who respectively qualified 10th and 13th, started the race from the pit lane after a fuel temperature issue.[131] At the first corner on the opening lap, Verstappen overtook Sainz for second place and closed in on Leclerc, whom he passed for the lead on lap 9, as Leclerc struggled with the medium compound tyres. The race was neutralised on lap 41, as Norris's rear right tyre made contact with Gasly's front left, triggering a virtual safety car and then a safety car for five laps. Verstappen was pressured from Leclerc at the restart, and defended his position to take the win. On lap 52, his teammate Pérez attempted to overtake Sainz into turn 1 but made a mistake and locked up. Vettel and Schumacher collided at lap 53, but no action was taken.[132][133] Leclerc and Sainz finished second and third, respectively, while Pérez, who had temporarily suffered engine issues that cost him about 30 horsepower, and Russell made up the top five.[134] After the race, Alonso was given two separate five-second penalties and finished outside of points.[133] Magnussen had two separate incidents following the restart with Stroll, retiring on the last lap.[135]

Leclerc took pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix,[136][137] which he led until being forced on lap 27 to retire due to a turbo and MGU-H failure.[138] Despite DRS issues,[139][140] Verstappen won the race, with Pérez letting him by on lap 49,[139] as they were on different strategies;[141] Russell completed the podium.[142] Sainz had a bad start that dropped him from third to fifth, and also spun at turn 4 on lap 7 due to wind gust, followed by Verstappen due to similar issues at the same tun on lap 9,[139] but Sainz recovered from 11th to finish fourth,[143][144][145] ahead of Hamilton, who also made a come back from 19th,[146] after suffering a puncture in a racing incident with Magnussen at turn 4 after the start.[147] For the first time in the season, Red Bull led Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship, while the Drivers' Championship standings switched from a 19-point Leclerc lead to a 6-point advantage for Verstappen.[148]

Leclerc claimed pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix, in front of Sainz and Pérez.[149] Two formation laps were run, 16 minutes after the scheduled start time. The start was aborted, and started 50 minutes later. Due to a strategy error, Leclerc fell to fourth place behind Verstappen and Sainz, with Pérez leading the race. Ocon and Hamilton made contact on lap 18, the former getting a five-second time penalty.[150] Five laps after Magnussen retired due to water pressure loss,[151] Schumacher spun near the swimming pool section, splitting his car in two and causing the race to be stopped.[152][153] The race was won by Pérez, followed by Sainz, Verstappen, Leclerc, and Russell.[154][155]

Leclerc once again claimed pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, in front of Pérez and Verstappen.[156] Pérez immediately overtook Leclerc in turn 1 and held the lead until lap 15, where Verstappen overtook him.[157] On lap 9, the virtual safety car was deployed after Sainz stopped at turn 4, due to a hydraulic issue. Then, on lap 20, after briefly taking the lead of the race, Leclerc suffered a power unit issue and pulled into the pits.[158] Magnussen and Zhou also retired from the race. Tsunoda was shown the black-and-orange flag for a DRS failure, which was fixed with speed tape, and him dropped to 13th.[159] Williams's Latifi received a ten-second stop and go penalty after for a grid infringement and was later given a five-second time penalty for ignoring blue flags.[160]

Verstappen took pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix, which returned to the calendar after a two-year absence, after a wet qualifying session. Alpine's Alonso started second, ahead of Sainz, while Leclerc started from the back of the grid after exceeding his quota of power unit components. Pérez started 13th following a crash in qualifying.[161] Pérez retired on lap 8 with gearbox issues, while technical problems for Schumacher forced him to retire on lap 20. Tsunoda crashed on lap 49, bringing out the safety car and allowing Sainz to close in on Verstappen and chase down the Red Bull driver in the closing stages. Despite this, Verstappen won the race from Sainz and Hamilton, while Leclerc climbed up to 5th.[162] Alonso was given a five-second post-race penalty for making more than one change of direction to defend a position, dropping him down from 7th to 9th.[163]

Sainz claimed his first pole position at the British Grand Prix.[164] Verstappen overtook him at turn one, before the race was red flagged and was restarted with original positions,[165] meaning Sainz started first again. He kept first position off the second start, before being overtaken by Verstappen several laps in. Verstappen picked up damage to his floor and dropped down to seventh.[166] Sainz was then overtaken by Leclerc. Sainz, Pérez and Hamilton all pitted for new tyres under safety car. With newer tyres, Leclerc was then overtaken by all three, dropping him down to fourth. Sainz won his first ever Formula One race.[164]

Verstappen qualified on pole and won the second sprint of the championship at the Austrian Grand Prix. He was overtaken three times at various points by Leclerc, who eventually won the race.[167] Sainz was quicker than Verstappen and was on for an "easy one-two,"[168] before a power unit issue saw him retire,[169] leaving Verstappen second and promoting Hamilton to third.[170]

Russell took his maiden pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix while Red Bull Racing struggled in qualifying, with Verstappen suffering MGU-K problems and Pérez unable to get a clean lap in Q2 leaving them tenth and eleventh on the grid.[171] Verstappen made a strong recovery drive, working his way up the order with better strategy and pace. Verstappen won from Hamilton, who recovered from seventh, following a DRS failure in qualifying. Russell came third after being passed by Hamilton with five laps to go.[172] Sainz and Leclerc finished fourth and sixth respectively after questionable strategy calls from the Ferrari pit wall.[173]

The Belgian Grand Prix was the first race held after the August break, with several drivers taking on additional components and incurring grid penalties for doing so.[174] Sainz started the race from pole; Alonso and Hamilton made contact after a scrap at Les Combes.[175] Hamilton was forced to retire his car shortly afterwards, and an incursion between Latifi and Bottas on the second lap drew out the safety car. Verstappen made quick work of the cars ahead at the restart, with Pérez following to secure a one-two finish for Red Bull Racing. Sainz rounded out the podium. Leclerc pitted for new soft tyres on the penultimate lap to make an attempt at the fastest lap and incurred a time penalty for speeding in the pit lane, demoting him to sixth at the conclusion of the race.[176]

At the Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen was able to beat Leclerc to pole at his home race. On lap 45, Tsunoda pulled over with an issue on the front-left tyre. Tsunoda was told to continue and came in a lap later, for a change of tyres and to tighten his seatbelt, which he had loosened as he prepared to abandon his car. On lap 47, Tsunoda retired with a differential issue. This brought out a virtual safety car, allowing Verstappen to make a pit stop to keep the lead ahead of the two Mercedes. On lap 55, Bottas retired with an engine issue, bringing out a full safety car. Verstappen overtook Hamilton at the restart almost immediately, while Sainz received a five-second penalty for an unsafe release during his pit stop. After Russell made a split-second decision to pit again for faster softs, he overtook Hamilton, who fell to fourth after being overtaken by Leclerc as well. Following the race, a conspiracy theory emerged accusing Red Bull Racing strategist Hannah Schmitz of conspiring with sister team AlphaTauri to ensure a favourable result for Verstappen, after questioning the nature of Tsunoda's retirement. The incident was looked into by race stewards, whose only action was to reprimand Tsunoda for having his belts undone.[177][178]

Leclerc took pole at the Italian Grand Prix with Verstappen taking second. He, alongside Sainz and Hamilton, took penalties for replacing components.[179] Verstappen started from seventh, but reached second by lap 5, behind Leclerc who had held successfully defended first position. After Vettel experienced an engine failure on lap 10,[180] Leclerc pitted under the virtual safety car.[181] Verstappen would then lead the race until he pitted on lap 26.[182] Alonso's Alpine would then be retired because of a water pressure issue on lap 31, but was returned to the pit lane to avoid any disruptions to the race.[183] Leclerc made a second pit stop on lap 34, again giving Verstappen the lead. Stroll retired on lap 39 and on lap 47, Ricciardo stopped his car on the side of the track and a safety car was deployed.[180][181] Verstappen held the position and won under the safety car.[181]

The Singapore Grand Prix was the first race wherein Verstappen could mathematically win the championship. He had to outscore Leclerc by 22 points, Pérez by 13 and George Russell by six. If Verstappen came first with the fastest lap while Leclerc came eighth or lower and Pérez came fourth or lower, or if Verstappen came first without the fastest lap while Leclerc came ninth or lower and Pérez came either fourth without fastest lap or fifth with, Verstappen would be the champion.[184] Leclerc was on pole after Verstappen abandoned two qualifying laps, the first due to traffic, and the second to ensure there would be enough fuel for the governing body to take a sample at the end of the session, thus avoiding a disqualifciation from the qualifying session. Verstappen started from eighth.[185] The race was delayed by over an hour due to thunderstorms.[186] Pérez won the race, followed by Leclerc and Sainz. Verstappen came seventh.[187]

Following Verstappen's failure to secure the championship at the Singapore Grand Prix, there were several permutations that could net him the championship at the following Japanese Grand Prix. He needed to outscore Leclerc by eight points and Pérez by six.[188] Verstappen would secure pole, in front of Leclerc, Sainz, and Pérez. The race began on time despite poor weather, and was red flagged after two laps following an accident involving Sainz. The deployment of the recovery vehicle during the red flag was criticised; Gasly narrowly missing it in poor weather conditions. Gasly angrily remonstrated that "[he] could have killed [himself]" if he had lost control and hit the vehicle, even at reduced speed.[189] The race resumed at 16:15 local time behind the safety car. Only twenty-eight laps were completed before the race was curtailed due to it passing the three-hour time limit. Verstappen won by just under 27 seconds, with Leclerc coming second and Pérez coming third. After an investigation involving the latter two in the final lap, Leclerc was handed a five-second penalty, meaning he came third behind Pérez.[190] As the race was successfully completed, full points were awarded despite confusion that only partial points were on offer due to the reduced total length of the race. Verstappen was crowned World Champion, having an insurmountable lead of 113 points, with only 112 still available.[191]

Points are awarded to the top ten classified drivers, the driver who set the fastest lap during the Grand Prix (only if one of the top ten), and the top eight of the sprint.[101][lower-alpha 11] In the case of a tie on points a countback system is used where the driver with the most Grand Prix wins is ranked higher. If the number of wins is identical then the number of second places is considered, and so on. If this procedure fails to produce a result, the FIA will nominate the winner according to such criteria as it thinks fit. The points are awarded for every race using the following system:[196]

Pos. Driver BHR SAU AUS EMI MIA ESP MON AZE CAN GBR AUT FRA HUN BEL NED ITA SIN JPN USA MXC SAP ABU Points 1 Max Verstappen 19 1 Ret 1P 1 F 1F 1 3 1 1P 7 2P 1 F 1 1 1F 1PF 1 7 1P 1 1P 416 2 Sergio Pérez 18 4P 2 23 4 2F 1 2F Ret 2 Ret5 4 5 2 5 6F 1 2 4 3 280 3 Charles Leclerc 1PF 2F 1PF 62 2P RetP 4P RetP 5 4 12 RetP 6 6 3 2P 2P 3 3 6 275 4 George Russell 4 5 3 4 5 3 5 3 4 Ret 44 3 3P 4 2 3 14F 8 5F 4F 231 5 Lewis Hamilton 3 10 4 13 6 5 8 4 3 3F 38 2 2F Ret 4 5 9 5 2 2 216 6 Carlos Sainz Jr. 2 3 Ret Ret4 3 4 2 Ret 2F 1P Ret3 5F 4 3P 8 4 3 Ret RetP 5 212 7 Lando Norris 15 7 5 35 Ret 8 6F 9 15 6 7 7 7 12 7 7 4 10 6 9 111 8 Esteban Ocon 7 6 7 14 8 7 12 10 6 Ret 56 8 9 7 9 11 Ret 4 11 8 82 9 Fernando Alonso 9 Ret 17 Ret 11 9 7 7 9 5 10 6 8 5 6 Ret Ret 7 7 19 71 10 Valtteri Bottas 6 Ret 8 57 7 6 9 11 7 Ret 11 14 20 Ret Ret 13 11 15 Ret 10 47 11 Sebastian Vettel Ret 8 17 11 10 6 12 9 17 11 10 8 14 Ret 8 6 8 14 36 12 Daniel Ricciardo 14 Ret 6 186 13 12 13 8 11 13 9 9 15 15 17 Ret 5 11 16 7 35 13 Kevin Magnussen 5 9 14 98 16 17 Ret Ret 17 10 87 Ret 16 16 15 16 12 14 9 17 24 14 Pierre Gasly Ret 8 9 12 Ret 13 11 5 14 Ret 15 12 12 9 11 8 10 18 14 11 23 15 Lance Stroll 12 13 12 10 10 15 14 16 10 11 13 10 11 11 10 Ret 6 12 Ret 15 13 16 Mick Schumacher 11 WD 13 17 15 14 Ret 14 Ret 8 6 15 14 17 13 12 13 17 15 16 12 17 Yuki Tsunoda 8 DNS 15 7 12 10 17 13 Ret 14 16 Ret 19 13 Ret 14 Ret 13 10 Ret 12 18 Zhou Guanyu 10 11 11 15 Ret Ret 16 Ret 8 Ret 14 16 13 14 16 10 Ret 16F 12 13 6 19 Alexander Albon 13 14 10 11 9 18 Ret 12 13 Ret 12 13 17 10 12 WD Ret Ret 13 12 4 20 Nicholas Latifi 16 Ret 16 16 14 16 15 15 16 12 Ret Ret 18 18 18 15 Ret 9 17 18 2 21 Nyck de Vries 9 2 22 Nico Hülkenberg 17 12 0 Pos. Driver BHR SAU AUS EMI MIA ESP MON AZE CAN GBR AUT FRA HUN BEL NED ITA SIN JPN USA MXC SAP ABU Points Source:[197]

Key Colour Result Gold Winner Silver Second place Bronze Third place Green Other points position Blue Other classified position Not classified, finished (NC) Purple Not classified, retired (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Race cancelled (C) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Excluded (EX) Did not arrive (DNA) Withdrawn (WD) Did not enter (empty cell) Annotation Meaning P Pole position Superscript number Points-scoring position in sprint F Fastest lap

Notes:

•  – Driver did not finish the Grand Prix but was classified, as he completed more than 90% of the race distance.

Pos. Constructor BHR SAU AUS EMI MIA ESP MON AZE CAN GBR AUT FRA HUN BEL NED ITA SIN JPN USA MXC SAP ABU Points 1 Red Bull Racing-RBPT 18 1 2 1P 1 F 1F 1 1 1 1P 2 2P 1 F 1 1 1F 1PF 1 1 1P 1 1P 696 19 4P Ret 23 4 2F 3 2F Ret 7 Ret5 4 5 2 5 6F 7 2 4 3 2 Ferrari 1PF 2F 1PF 62 2P 4 2 RetP 2F 1P 12 5F 4 3P 3 2P 2P 3 3 5 487 2 3 Ret Ret4 3 RetP 4P Ret 5 4 Ret3 RetP 6 6 8 4 3 Ret RetP 6 3 Mercedes 3 5 3 4 5 3 5 3 3 3F 38 2 2F 4 2 3 9 5 2 2 447 4 10 4 13 6 5 8 4 4 Ret 44 3 3P Ret 4 5 14F 8 5F 4F 4 Alpine-Renault 7 6 7 14 8 7 7 7 6 5 56 6 8 5 6 11 Ret 4 7 8 153 9 Ret 17 Ret 11 9 12 10 9 Ret 10 8 9 7 9 Ret Ret 7 11 19 5 McLaren-Mercedes 14 7 5 35 13 8 6F 8 11 6 7 7 7 12 7 7 4 10 6 7 146 15 Ret 6 186 Ret 12 13 9 15 13 9 9 15 15 17 Ret 5 11 16 9 6 Alfa Romeo-Ferrari 6 11 8 57 7 6 9 11 7 Ret 11 14 13 14 16 10 11 15 12 10 53 10 Ret 11 15 Ret Ret 16 Ret 8 Ret 14 16 20 Ret Ret 13 Ret 16F Ret 13 7 Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes 12 12 12 8 10 11 10 6 10 9 13 10 10 8 10 Ret 6 6 8 14 49 17 13 Ret 10 17 15 14 16 12 11 17 11 11 11 14 Ret 8 12 Ret 15 8 Haas-Ferrari 5 9 13 98 15 14 Ret 14 17 8 6 15 14 16 13 12 12 14 9 16 36 11 WD 14 17 16 17 Ret Ret Ret 10 87 Ret 16 17 15 16 13 17 15 17 9 AlphaTauri-RBPT 8 8 9 7 12 10 11 5 14 14 15 12 12 9 11 8 10 13 10 11 35 Ret DNS 15 12 Ret 13 17 13 Ret Ret 16 Ret 19 13 Ret 14 Ret 18 14 Ret 10 Williams-Mercedes 13 14 10 11 9 16 15 12 13 12 12 13 17 10 12 9 Ret 9 13 12 8 16 Ret 16 16 14 18 Ret 15 16 Ret Ret Ret 18 18 18 15 Ret Ret 17 18 Pos. Constructor BHR SAU AUS EMI MIA ESP MON AZE CAN GBR AUT FRA HUN BEL NED ITA SIN JPN USA MXC SAP ABU Points Source:[198]

Key Colour Result Gold Winner Silver Second place Bronze Third place Green Other points position Blue Other classified position Not classified, finished (NC) Purple Not classified, retired (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Race cancelled (C) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Excluded (EX) Did not arrive (DNA) Withdrawn (WD) Did not enter (empty cell) Annotation Meaning P Pole position Superscript number Points-scoring position in sprint F Fastest lap

Notes:

•  – Driver did not finish the Grand Prix, but was classified as he completed more than 90% of the race distance.
• Rows are not related to the drivers: within each team, individual Grand Prix standings are sorted purely based on the final classification in the race (not by total points scored in the event, which includes points awarded for fastest lap and sprint).