George Russell pits in his Mercedes (F1.com)
F1 is back, baby. Saturday's qualifying session will be must-watch television as we look for answers on a pecking order that is still very uncertain. Naturally, it's time to make some blind predictions and hope for the best! As I always do.
For any new fans, this is the year to get into the sport, as this will be an entirely new season with changes like we've never seen before. For long-time fans, this will still be a very strange experience for those who acknowledge tradition above all else.
So, in this article, I'll be taking my best shot at predicting where each of the 20 drivers will end up in the standings. From 20-1, here is my best shot at picking where I believe each driver will end up.
20. Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo
I'm expecting the grid's only rookie to struggle in his first season in F1. We saw last year from Yuki Tsunoda, Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin that going from F2 to F1 is a massive jump that is especially hard for anybody in an uncompetitive car. Though the Alfa should have some pace, the reliability in both preseason testing wasn't entirely convincing. Guanyu was decent in Formula 2, but like drivers such as Nicholas Latifi and Lance Stroll, I have a feeling that he'll have trouble shaking the pay driver label.
19. Nicholas Latifi, Williams
Though Latifi really started to improve towards the back end of last season, I think that this could be a step back for the Canadian. Though he is familiar with new teammate Alex Albon after they days together in F2, I feel that losing George Russell will be detrimental to Latifi's performance. Russell really spurned in Latifi to be his best in a way that Albon may not manage. He should score some more points, but in a tough field, he may be relegated to 19th.
18. Alex Albon, Williams
It's an unconventional return to F1 for the former Red Bull driver. As proven by his great performances at AlphaTauri in his rookie season as well as his debut podium for Red Bull, Albon has lots of pace. However, the Williams car of 2022 looks fairly weak. Reliability issues and a lack of pace may doom Albon to a fate towards the back end of the grid, but I do think that he will outperform his teammate and show enough promise to be kept on for a second season at the Grove team.
17. Mick Schumacher, Haas
In an absolutely dreadful Haas car, the heir to the Schumacher name had no chance to make a name for himself. However, after putting in the second best time in Bahrain testing, Schumacher has proved that both he and the Haas can compete for points this season. It'll be tough for such a young driver to get to grips with a whole new set of regulations so quickly, but Schumacher's raw pace should allow him to scrape into the the top 10 on a few occasions.
16. Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
Bottas is a quick driver on his day, but after years of playing second fiddle to Lewis Hamilton, he may find it tough to lead a team. I'm expecting some good qualifying runs from Bottas and the car looks quick enough to compete, but he's prone to the occasional slip-up. He'll have to get used to a new team principal, a new car and a new teammate in just a few weeks. In his prime, Bottas is up to the task, but he may find it too tough nowadays.
15. Kevin Magnussen, Haas
It's a sensational return to Haas for Kevin Magnussen. After being dropped for Mick Schumacher in 2020, he is now coming back to the team that let him go to pair Schumacher. Magnussen is one of the more underrated drivers of the decade, with the capability to put in some impressive performances. I expect that his motivation will not be at its' highest. However, he should be able to come back into the team and pick up enough points to help Haas finish 8th in the constructors' championship.
14. Esteban Ocon, Alpine
Ocon is quick on his day, but it doesn't come around too often. He can get around the track quicker than most when he wants to, but like the next driver on this list, he can be a bit inconsistent. I'll balance it out and leave him in 14th, as Alpine had some issues with reliability in Barcelona and I don't trust their car as much as I do the other midfield vehicles.
13. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
Aston Martin had a fairly uninspiring preseason and I think that it could be a sign of yet another mediocre season. Stroll is not a poor driver by any means and he is showing hints of pace, but his inconsistency will always hold him back. I'm predicting a season very similar to what Esteban Ocon had last season: a couple of purple patches, some long stretches without points and maybe even a surprise win.
12. Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
The Japanese with no filter, Tsunoda really started to come into his own towards the end of last season. A fourth place finish in Abu Dhabi will always go forgotten considering the circumstances towards the front, but it was a splendid drive. Tsunoda still needs to refine his style, but he is very talented and we could see some good performances this year. He is still levels below his teammate Pierre Gasly, though.
11. Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
One of the best drivers of his generation, Vettel had some incredible highs in his first season with Aston Martin, but he also had some major lows. The German's goal will be to limit his lows and have an impressive season. I think he can manage that in an Aston Martin car that must improve to justify Lawrence Stroll's excessive funding. In the end, I think that missing the Bahrain GP with COVID-19 may hurt his chances of finishing in the top 10.
10. Fernando Alonso, Alpine
In what I expect will be his last season in F1, Fernando Alonso will hope to push into the top of the midfield. He's one of the grid's best defenders and his pace can be stunning at times. The Alpine had some reliability issues, but Fernando should be able to drive it to his heart's desire. He may find it difficult to pierce through the top 8.
9. Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
Gasly is one of grid's very best drivers. This could be his audition to convince Christian Horner to give him the Red Bull seat for next year. He is capable of some stunning qualifying performances and he has become much better lately at turning that into good performances in the Grand Prix. I expect hat we will see Gasly give a good account of himself this year and prevail in the battle of the lower midfield.
8. Lando Norris, McLaren
This is probably very harsh, especially after Lando completely wiped the floor with his teammate Daniel Ricciardo last season. However, I think Danny Ric will get to grips with his car and beat the Briton this campaign. The McLaren seems like the fourth best car on the grid and it could mean that Lando takes a big step back. He's quick enough to maybe get a win this year, but I feel confident with making a call that he could struggle to adapt this season.
7. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
While Carlos Sainz's consistency last year, I can't help but shake the feeling that it'll be tough to replicate his consistency. There are so many factors in a Formula 1 race that influence where you might end up in the standings. He's an excellent driver who can stay out of trouble better than anybody else, but if his luck ever runs out, he could fall to seventh.
6. Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
Though Daniel Ricciardo once convincingly beat Sebastian Vettel in his first year with a new car, he's developing a bit of a reputation as a driver who takes too long to adapt to the car. He took way too long to learn how last year's McLaren worked, but I think he'll be much better suited this year. He should understand the car a bit better, despite missing preseason testing in Bahrain. It's a gutsy prediction to pick him over Lando Norris, but I could see it happening.
5. Sergio Perez, Red Bull
Sergio Perez is not one of the faster drivers on the grid, but he has what seems to be a rapid car and like Carlos Sainz, he stays out of trouble. He's a perfect wingman for Max Verstappen, but he isn't always able to match some of the grid's quicker drivers. I think fifth is fair, especially with the Ferrari drivers threatening to break into the top tier of the Drivers' Championship.
4. George Russell, Mercedes
In his first year with Mercedes, George Russell will likely pick up a few poles, due to his incredible qualifying pace. However, some tension is expected between George and his hero, Lewis Hamilton. I expect it may be difficult for Russell to get used to such a quick car, as he's only ever been in a Williams. However, at the 2020 Sakhir GP, Russell proved that the gap may not be as large as I figure.
3. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
It's Charles Leclerc's best chance to win a World Championship. He has a quick, good-looking Ferrari at his disposal and he is prepared to put everything on the line for his first win since 2019. Leclerc had some excellent drives last year, notably finishing second at Silverstone. With a car capable of fighting for wins, we could see the very best of the young hotshot. The top two is tough to crack, but Leclerc should be able to finish third.
2. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen has a very real shot at defending his title this year. In testing, the Red Bull looked like the quickest car. We all know that Verstappen can thrive under pressure and his raw pace is unlike anything we've seen from somebody of his age in a decade. He'll be eager to prove that his win last year wasn't a fluke and I expect that he learned some lessons from going toe-to-toe with Lewis Hamilton. However, I predict he will come up just short.
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
Hamilton was furious after losing the chance to win his eighth world championship after a controversial decision by Michael Masi at last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Hamilton will not retire until he beats Michael Schumacher's record. His new teammate Russell will push him to new heights. The Mercedes didn't look capable of fighting for race wins immediately in Bahrain testing, but we've seen this before. Hamilton will be the favourite heading into this season.
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