This was the final season for four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel. Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult season, securing neither a pole position nor a Grand Prix win for the first time in his Formula One career since it began in 2007.
The 2022 championship saw the introduction of significant changes to the sport's technical regulations, with ground effect aerodynamics reintroduced on Formula One cars for the first time since 1982. These changes had been intended for introduction in 2021 but were delayed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Red Bull car designer Adrian Newey noted that the regulation changes were the most significant in Formula One since the 1983 season.
The regulations reintroduced the use of ground effects, making the underside of the car the primary source of aerodynamic grip. Bargeboards — complex aerodynamic devices that manipulate airflow around the body of the car — were eliminated. Figures from the Working Group revealed that a 2019-specification car following another had just 55% of its normal downforce available, while a 2022-specification car following another would have up to 86% of its normal downforce. Wheel diameter increased from 13 inches (33 cm) to 18 inches (46 cm).
The introduction of ground effect meant that cars running close to the ground could experience an aerodynamic stall when airflow under the car was interrupted, repeatedly causing the car to lift and settle — colloquially known as "porpoising." By June 2022, several drivers had raised concerns: Haas's Kevin Magnussen complained of nerve issues, and both Mercedes drivers complained of back pain. The FIA introduced a technical directive from the Belgian Grand Prix onwards to prevent cars from porpoising and bottoming out to an unsafe level.
The existing power unit formula was retained. The quota system of power unit components was continued, with teams given a limited number of individual components before incurring a penalty.
All teams competed with tyres supplied by Pirelli. Kimi Räikkönen retired following the conclusion of the 2021 championship, having won 21 races and the 2007 World Drivers' Championship across a 19-season career. His seat at Alfa Romeo was filled by Valtteri Bottas, who left Mercedes after five seasons. George Russell replaced Bottas, vacating his seat at Williams after three seasons. Russell was replaced by former Red Bull Racing driver Alex Albon, who had been competing in the 2021 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters series.
Zhou Guanyu, who finished third in the 2021 Formula 2 Championship, joined Alfa Romeo in place of Antonio Giovinazzi. Zhou became the first Chinese driver to compete in Formula One. Nikita Mazepin was originally contracted to compete for Haas, but his contract was terminated following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resultant cancellation of Uralkali's title sponsorship. He was replaced by Kevin Magnussen, who had last competed in 2020 with the same team.
Honda had initially stated it would not supply power units beyond 2021. Red Bull Racing acknowledged they would have left the championship if an engine development freeze had not been agreed. Honda agreed to continue supplying Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri for 2022 with engines rebadged as Red Bull Powertrains.
Ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel tested positive for coronavirus. He was replaced at that event and the subsequent Saudi Arabian Grand Prix by Aston Martin reserve driver Nico Hülkenberg, who had last raced at the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix. During the Italian Grand Prix weekend, Alex Albon suffered from appendicitis and was replaced at Williams by Nyck de Vries, who made his Formula One race debut.
The 2022 calendar consisted of twenty-two events. The Emilia Romagna, Austrian, and São Paulo Grands Prix featured the sprint format. The Australian, Canadian, Japanese, and Singapore Grands Prix returned after a two-season absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Miami Grand Prix made its debut, taking place at the Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Russian Grand Prix was cancelled following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Chinese Grand Prix was not included due to Chinese travel restrictions.
Michael Masi, who had served as race director since the death of Charlie Whiting in 2019, was removed from the role following an inquiry into the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He was replaced by former DTM race director Niels Wittich and World Endurance Championship race director Eduardo Freitas, alternating the role. Herbie Blash, Whiting's former deputy, was appointed permanent senior advisor to the race director. Prior to the United States Grand Prix, the FIA abandoned the rotating race-director policy, leaving Wittich as the sole serving race director for the final four rounds.
The sprint format, first trialled as "sprint qualifying" in 2021, returned with the name changed to "sprint." Points were now awarded to the top eight finishers rather than the top three. The rule requiring drivers advancing to Q3 to start the Grand Prix on the tyres used to set their fastest time in Q2 was scrapped; all drivers now had free choice of starting tyre.
Following controversy over points at the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, the criteria for awarding points at uncompleted events was altered: no points were awarded unless a minimum of two laps had been completed under green flag conditions. A scaled system was introduced for partially completed races.
The planned spending allowance of US$141.2 million was increased by 3.1% in July, after concerns that high inflation could lead to teams exceeding the budget cap.
Formula One held two winter tests: at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on 23–25 February and at Bahrain International Circuit on 10–12 March. Pre-season testing suggested Ferrari and Red Bull Racing were the two strongest teams.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc won the Bahrain Grand Prix opener. The Red Bull cars of Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez both retired late in the closing laps with fuel issues. Verstappen won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after a late overtake on Leclerc following several laps where they exchanged positions. Leclerc won the Australian Grand Prix from pole position, leading every lap for Ferrari's first grand slam since Alonso at the 2010 Singapore Grand Prix; Verstappen retired on lap 38 due to fuel leaks causing a fire.
Verstappen won the Emilia Romagna sprint and Sunday's Grand Prix from pole position, achieving his second career grand slam, while Pérez finished second for Red Bull Racing's first 1–2 finish since the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix.
Leclerc won the Australian Grand Prix but suffered a turbo and MGU-H failure while leading the Spanish Grand Prix on lap 27; Verstappen won despite DRS issues. For the first time in the season, Red Bull led Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship after Spain, while the Drivers' Championship switched from a 19-point Leclerc lead to a 6-point Verstappen advantage.
Sergio Pérez won the Monaco Grand Prix, followed by Carlos Sainz, Verstappen, and Leclerc. At Azerbaijan, Leclerc suffered a power unit issue on lap 20. Verstappen won Canada and the Austrian Grand Prix sprint, while Carlos Sainz won his first-ever Formula One race at the British Grand Prix.
George Russell took his maiden pole at the Hungarian Grand Prix while Red Bull Racing struggled in qualifying, with Verstappen suffering MGU-K problems and Pérez unable to complete a clean Q2 lap. Verstappen won from Hamilton.
At the Belgian Grand Prix, Verstappen made quick work of the cars ahead at the restart and Pérez followed to secure a 1–2 for Red Bull. At the Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen beat Leclerc to pole at his home race and won after strategic pit stops under a late safety car.
Verstappen won the Italian Grand Prix under the safety car after Ricciardo stopped his car on the side of the track on lap 47.
Pérez won the Singapore Grand Prix, followed by Leclerc and Carlos Sainz; Verstappen came seventh, preventing him from securing the championship there. At the Japanese Grand Prix, the race was red-flagged after two laps following an accident involving Sainz. The deployment of a recovery vehicle during the red flag was criticised; Pierre Gasly narrowly missed it and angrily stated he "could have killed himself." Only 28 laps were completed before the three-hour time limit was reached. Verstappen won by just under 27 seconds; Leclerc was handed a five-second penalty in the final lap investigation, finishing third behind Pérez. Verstappen was crowned World Champion with an insurmountable lead of 113 points, with only 112 still available.
Red Bull Racing secured their first Constructors' Championship since 2013 at the United States Grand Prix. Verstappen took his fourteenth race win of the season at the Mexico City Grand Prix, breaking the record for most wins in a Formula One season, previously held jointly by Michael Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2013).
At the São Paulo Grand Prix — the third sprint weekend — Kevin Magnussen took the first pole position of his Formula One career, also Haas's first. Mercedes locked out the front row for the Grand Prix and converted it into their first 1–2 finish since the 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, with George Russell taking his first Formula One win.
Verstappen took pole and a fifteenth win at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, extending his record set in Mexico. Charles Leclerc held off Sergio Pérez to claim second in the race and second in the Drivers' Championship. The race was the final one for Sebastian Vettel, who retired from Formula One, as well as for Nicholas Latifi and Mick Schumacher.
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