2022

Formula One entered a new era in 2022 as sweeping technical regulations introduced ground-effect cars for the first time in four decades. The changes reshuffled the competitive order, with Ferrari emerging as Red Bull's closest challenger and Charles Leclerc quickly establishing himself as the early championship favourite after winning two of the opening three races.

Ferrari's SF-75 proved to be one of the fastest cars on the grid, but a combination of reliability failures, costly strategic errors and missed opportunities gradually unravelled their title challenge. While Leclerc and Ferrari struggled to convert pace into points, Max Verstappen and Red Bull relentlessly capitalised, building an increasingly commanding championship lead.

By the second half of the season, the momentum had shifted decisively in Red Bull's favour. Verstappen delivered one of the most dominant campaigns in Formula One history, securing his second World Championship with four races remaining and winning fifteen Grands Prix, a new record for the most victories in a single season.

Although remembered as the beginning of Red Bull's modern dominance, 2022 also became synonymous with Ferrari's squandered opportunity. Verstappen's record-breaking season would be surpassed just one year later, but it was 2022 that established the benchmark and marked the start of one of Formula One's most dominant eras.