So here we are at the half-way point. Of course not in number of races, but the summer break always feels like the midway point in the season. I thought it would be a good moment to reflect on what we've seen this season. Here's my take on this, you certainly don't have to agree on it and I'd like to hear people's opinions on it (and see a score in the polls).
On the back of 2021...
... the intense and spectacular 2021 season. Which was so intense at times the forums have overloaded on multiple occasions, we've probably gotten as close as possible to red mist situations on here. The short winter break was enough for most to settle down and let go of all the drama that transpired. But 2022 would be a year of major swings, completely new aerodynamic regulations that would promote close racing and it would bunch up the field. At least that's what was promised.
New regulations that ultimately led to...
... not bunching up the field. As some already expected, it would be the same three teams running at the front. There was however a mix-up at the front, with Ferrari having dedicated many of its 2021 resources into being competitive in 2022. So much so that in the eyes of most they have the fastest car. Mercedes have dropped the ball in the car performance department, at least at the beginning of the year. The midfield has been incredibly exciting all year as well, with teams moving up and down the order as the season progresses. Haas and Alfa off to a flying start. McLaren and Alpine duking it out. Some shining performances by Albon. Biggest disappointments being Aston Martin and Alpha Tauri.
But the racing...
... has improved massively in my eyes. We're seeing closer battles, cars are indeed able to follow each other much closer through faster sections of the tracks. I've already seen more interesting battles in races than I have in stretches of multiple seasons over the past decade. Not enough credit can be given to the technical team creating this ruleset as it delivered on this promise.
And the drama....
... so much drama! Whenever we have the potential to see a boring race Ferrari comes in and saves the day. I haven't fully watched all races this year but I don't think there has been any race on the level of boredom that a lot of the original hybrid era was. Spectacle along the entire grid, close battles in the midfield, actual battles on merit for the race lead. Bad luck on both leading teams. The porpoising cars, the not-porpoising cars, mid-season regulation changes to smack down a loophole. And now the silly season, which has lacked the contents to deserve that title for so many years has turned into the craziest silly season in a hell of a while.
Driving excellence...
... in several spots on the field. We are witnessing the "new king" of the sport Verstappen drive at his absolute best, struggling with a car not to his liking at the beginning of the year but ultimately dominating whenever his car isn't failing him and making massive inroads to his second world title. We've seen a more than excellent Leclerc deliver when he could and wasn't either let down by his team, his car, or in two occasions himself. We saw a struggling Lewis Hamilton at the beginning of the year finding his feet with the new car formula and returning to the drives of excellence he is so well renowned for. Magnussen has provided a feel-good comeback story so far, and the same can be said for Albon. Alonso has shown that the word speed continues to be associated with him... and so is the word drama.
All-in, especially in a world where so many things are seemingly moving towards or even currently culminating into some form of epic finale (at the detriment of the world we live in), this F1 season just feels so fitting. As I've mentioned in the title it feels to me like the crescendo of contemporary F1. So much spectacle cramped into one season. So much drama in the races and in all the stuff that's happening on the side and in the background. I'd give this season up til now a solid 9.
Why not a 10? Well mostly because we could do with a more tightly fought championship, even if performance is incredibly close between the two top teams, the points gap is significant. And I would've liked more teams in the mix, even though with the rising Mercedes we might get that in the second half. But I'd have wanted to see McLaren and Alpine closer, and the rest close behind.
What are your thoughts?