The 2021 Formula 1 season had a number of standout races, including Baku and Jeddah, but which races could offer the same spectacle in 2022?
Alongside one of the most encapsulating world championship battles in the history of the sport, the 2021 Formula 1 season also presented audiences around the world with a quantity of high-adrenaline events across the globe.
From the tire wear of France to the exploration of a new seaside circuit to the chaos of a wet start in Hungary, every grand prix presented its own unique twist in the long-developing tale that was the 2021 season.
Looking forward to the 2022 season past the unavoidable excitement of new regulations, Formula 1 has presented fans and teams with a projected 23-race calendar. Realistically, we can expect at least one of these events to be cancelled by local governments over health concerns, and recent political tensions have led to the cancellation of the final Russian Grand Prix in Sochi.
With that being said, which events on the 2022 Formula 1 calendar are going to give us the most memorable moments of the season?
No. 1 – Saudi Arabia (Jeddah Corniche Circuit), Round 2 (March 27)
After the track was introduced as a new venue on the Formula 1 calendar at the tail-end of last season, title rivals Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton gave us one of the best track debuts in recent memory.
Setting the tone with one of the most exhilarating qualifying sessions in the history of motorsport, the two pushed the limits of their machinery through the twisting, high-walled sweeps of the Corniche circuit, only for Verstappen to dramatically clatter the exit of the final corner. This was followed by a race chock-full of bold moves on restarts and whining to the FIA from each of the championship manufacturers.
The Saudi Arabian circuit figures to offer a similar level of excitement this season, now under the circumstances of being a race in the infancy of the season whilst teams attempt to come to grips with their cars and tire strategy.
These factors, combined with a double-DRS dynamic to the track, enabling slower cars to retain track position, makes the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix one of the most promising races on the calendar for drama and theatrics.