Formula 1: Way-too-early 2022 driver power rankings
By Ian Higgins
#4 – Carlos Sainz Jr., Ferrari
Arguably the most impressive driver of 2021, Carlos Sainz Jr. quickly integrated into his new outfit at Maranello and was on terms with teammate Charles Leclerc by the time they arrived in Monaco. Pushing current and former teammates alike over the course of the season, it was unbelievable how Sainz was able to compete at such a high level while his replacement at McLaren, Daniel Ricciardo, spent the year struggling to learn the nuances of the MCL35M.
After Sainz displayed an inconceivable ability to adapt from car to car, not just this past season, but upon arrival in McLaren and Renault as well, the introduction of new regulations for the entire field could present a unique point-scoring situation for him.
His window of opportunity will be within the first few rounds of the season while the remainder of the field attempt to comprehend their machinery.
#3 – Fernando Alonso, Alpine
Becoming the first-ever Formula 1 rookie of the year with two world championships, Fernando Alonso will seemingly never lose his touch behind the wheel and his savviness going into turn one. Alongside tenured teammate Esteban Ocon, Alonso impressed in his first season back since struggling with a “GP2” Honda power unit in a flawed McLaren.
Despite demonstrating comparable qualifying pace, Alonso was ahead of his teammate for 124 more laps, thanks to his prowess in finding space for overtaking on the first lap of the race. Some of these maneuvers included a “creative” line for turn one in Russia, hanging around the outside of the heavily banked fourth corner of Zandvoort, and some aggressive car positioning in Qatar.
Still displaying the aggression of his youth, Alonso will excel beyond any other driver on the grid in wheel-to-wheel combat, which will be a far more important skill within the new regulations of encouraged overtaking. Alonso is also now the most experienced driver on the grid, capable of recalling on experience from an ancient era of Formula 1 cars which relied upon lightness rather than excess downforce.