Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2022 – How will the British Drivers Fare?
The 2022 Formula One season got underway on March 20th and with the first four races having been completed, the driver’s championship is slowly beginning to take shape. Although the early races have been dominated by reigning champion Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, there have also been some notable performances from the three British drivers.
Although they have plenty of ground to make up, there are always likely to be plenty of twists and turns throughout the course of the season, and it’s impossible to rule out the possibility of both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton putting together a strong end to the campaign.
At the time of writing, the latter is third favourite in the driver’s championship outright betting and can be backed at 33/1, however, there are a number of bookmakers who have the seven-time champion priced up at a tempting 40/1. When betting on the ante-post F1 markets, it’s strongly advised to shop around for the best possible odds, as many bookmakers, including some of the best new betting sites, tend to offer standout odds on both the drivers and constructors championship markets. The prices will also fluctuate with each passing race, so it’s always worth going back and checking the post-race odds as the bookmakers will often react to recent events and a single slip up or momentary blip may result in a significant drift.
Lewis Hamilton
It’s been a forgettable start to the 2022 season for Lewis Hamilton, however, the experienced Brit has been fairly unlucky in his opening four races. Although he has already ruled out his title prospects, his fortunes will surely improve as the season progresses.
Hamilton endured a frustrating weekend in Imola at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, finishing outside of the points for just the second time since 2013.
Worryingly, former teammate Nico Rosberg has spoken of the ‘rising tension’ between the driver and his team. He suggested that Hamilton is frustrated with his car and that it could be a long hard season for the 2020 champion if the pair are unable to resolve their differences.
Nevertheless, Rosberg suggested that Hamilton may muster enough motivation for the fight and the unthinkable prospect of finishing behind improving teammate George Russell is likely to give him enough of an incentive to maintain a high level of performance.
George Russell
George Russell has made an impressive start to the season and will fancy his chances on building on his superb recent performances. The Brit has finished inside the top five in each of his opening four appearances and has finished ahead of his struggling teammate on three occasions.
The former Williams driver spent last season driving an inferior vehicle and as a result, he is perhaps better equipped for the season. With the Mercedes car struggling to compete, Russell has managed to make the most of the situation, although he isn’t getting too far ahead of himself.
He has a bright future in the sport and if Mercedes can make the necessary improvements to their car, he could be one to keep an eye on next season. Nevertheless, if he can continue his recent form, he looks destined for a potential top five finish.
Lando Norris
Lando Norris has been slowly improving as the season has progressed and secured a podium finish in Imola at the end of April. Having struggled in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, the McLaren driver took advantage of other driver’s misfortune to pick up third place.
Nico Rosberg has described the 22-year old as a ‘future world champion’ and he’s also been backed by McLaren CEO Zak Brown. Unlike Mercedes, there appears to be a cohesion between Norris and his team and that will surely be beneficial to his performances throughout the remainder of the campaign. He’s spoken about the need for ‘improvements everywhere’, however, he’s also spoken of his admiration for the team and he is clearly enjoying himself this season.
Although Lewis Hamilton’s dominance may be coming to an end, both George Russell and Lando Norris appear to have extremely bright futures. Neither of these two drivers are likely to overthrow Max Verstappen or Charles Leclerc anytime soon, however, both has been touted as potential champions and they look set for future success in Formula One.