Formula 1: Way-too-early 2022 driver power rankings

#14 – Mick Schumacher, Haas

Following a season in which the fast-rising star was able to display his skill via the domination of his teammate and a single Q2 appearance in Turkey (despite an earlier Q2 breakthrough in France after red-flagging the session) as well as by keeping up with the clearly pacier Williams on occasion, Mick Schumacher is poised to make the most of the “Baby Ferrari” and force Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto into a difficult decision regarding the drivers of the Scuderia.

Having won the Formula 2 title, Schumacher is a proven championship-grade talent, but he typically needs an extended amount of time to adapt to a new category. With such sweeping changes to the aerodynamic platform of the 2022 cars and a Ferrari power unit that may not even resemble their 2021 product, Schumacher could find himself playing catch-up with the remainder of the grid in trying to adapt to the new machinery.

#13 – Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo

Finally released from the grasps of the infamous “James”, Valterri Bottas finds himself entering a new era of Formula 1 with a new frame of mind. Now free to fight for his own championship without the concerns of performing a distinct role within the team, there is a massive external pressure lifted which could encourage the Finn to return to the form he displayed with Williams in outperforming world championship-caliber teammate Felipe Massa.

As a Finnish racing driver, Bottas inherently has a passion for rally driving in snow-covered landscapes, a skillset which could offer some direct comparisons to the new 2022 Formula 1 equipment. With a loose rear end and demand for mid-corner adjustments to find the pace, Bottas could be a pleasant sight in the midfield where he can regain his wheel-to-wheel combat skills.