No. 2 – Ferrari (Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz Jr.)
We now enter the potential rivalries between teammates which could hold direct implications in both the driver and constructor championships by the final lap in Yas Marina. Coming to a flailing Ferrari from a resurgent McLaren team which he had helped revive alongside Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz Jr. impeccably adapted to a car likely geared to the tastes of his new teammate Charles Leclerc.
The tandem remained within touching distance of each other in the standings over the course of the season. Both drivers had a near identical average finishing position (Leclerc 6.6, Sainz 6.5, excluding DNFs), but the difference in comfort with the car showed itself in qualifying, where the Monegasque outqualified the Spaniard by roughly a position and a half, on average (Leclerc 6.5, Sainz 7.9).
Leclerc also added two pole positions to his career tally throughout the season, though the first was never claimed due to damage from the Q3 session the day before.
There were also multiple instances in which the two clattered in the midfield and were guided by the Ferrari pit wall to achieve the goals of the team. Such conflicts are certain to arise again throughout the 2022 season, but if the Ferrari is as competitive as claimed, neither driver will be willing to back down.
Leclerc has already been hardened by former teammate Sebastian Vettel in regard to the reality of competition between teammates and how team orders must be taken with a hefty pinch of salt. Sainz, on the other hand, lacks the hands-on experience that Leclerc has endured, but he has a proven feistiness to combat a teammate.
What could be the decider is the culture of the team in red and their true priorities. Who would Ferrari ownership rather see lifting the championship trophy? A Monegasque with strong organizational ties and a longer tenure within the team, or a Spanish newcomer who will likely be pinned with the responsibility of intra-team incidents by the team should they come?