For the second year in a row, Formula 1 managed to squeeze a record 25 races into a season by hosting 22 grands prix and three sprint races in the space of eight months.
There wasn’t a year-long title fight this time around, but the 2022 technical regulations did lead to a closer season of on-track action as drivers could spend longer sat behind other cars without the same level of performance loss as in previous seasons.
For each race, we asked RaceFans readers to give a rating between one and ten of how enjoyable each one had been. The polls were compiled to create averages, and this is how the grands prix fared – starting with the lowest rated race and finishing on the highest.
22. Mexican Grand Prix
Average rating: 3.90/10
An entertaining race for Daniel Ricciardo fans, particularly after the struggling McLaren driver received soft tyres for his final stint and made multiple overtakes to rise from 13th to seventh. But a combination of the thin air at high altitude leading to a weakened slipstream effect and less cool air for temperature management, and a slippery track surface made overtaking too difficult for most.
It was one of many dominant wins for Max Verstappen, with the top positions staying the same through the pit stops, and not even a popular home podium for Sergio Perez – celebrated in style in the track’s stadium section – could redeem this race, which now features among your bottom 10.
21. Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Average rating: 5.03/10
Verstappen dominated in a Red Bull one-two, although it was Perez who led early on after passing pole winner Charles Leclerc. An early-season trend for Ferrari continued here as Carlos Sainz Jnr had an off and Leclerc retired from a comfortable lead with an engine failure.
There was little on-track action with more pit stops than overtakes. Lewis Hamilton fighting Pierre Gasly late in the race to take fourth place was one of few notable moments in an unusually tepid encounter at Baku.
20. Italian Grand Prix
Average rating: 5.28/10
Power unit penalties shook up the grid and left Leclerc in a position to take a win for Ferrari on home soil. Verstappen started seventh and Perez lined up 13th.
The Tifosi’s cheers were mostly towards Sainz, who had to start 18th as the result of changing power unit components, as he…
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