2022 has been a dream year for Red Bull and for its drivers: Max Verstappen and Sergio “Checo” Pérez. Led by the Dutchman, the Austrian team already celebrated its first title when there were still four circuits to run, and now, thanks to the great performance of Verstappen’s teammate, he managed to close this season with a flourish by winning the trophy constructors and break the hegemony of Mercedes.
Since its star was Sebastián Vettel, four times the first in the world between 2010 and 2013, Red Bull Racing has not experienced two seasons as glorious as that of 2021, where Max Verstappen was champion, and the current one, in which they have just won get the double: be world champions in drivers and constructors.
Red Bull Racing: Constructors World Champion
To be constructors’ champions and win the double, they only needed Max and “Checo” to occupy positions within the top 5 of the race at the United States GP. Something that did not seem impossible and seemed very likely due to what these two drivers had done throughout the season.
In the starting position, the current champion started in second place behind Carlos Sainz, who had been the winner of the pole position. On his part, Pérez had a little more work, since he started in P9.
With 10 laps to go, Hamilton was leading the race with a Verstappen who knew that by pressing and thanks to DRS he could overtake him. On lap 50, the Dutchman passed the Mercedes driver and took first place.
For his part, the Mexican “Checo” waged a tough battle with Leclerc, a Ferrari driver, for third position. Finally, he had to settle for a fourth but triumphant position.
And so it was, Verstappen added one more podium while “Checo” was left behind Hamilton and Leclerc, which gave them the title even with three grand prix to go.
Red Bull Racing scored points in 18 of the 19 Grands Prix that have been contested this season: Saudi Arabia (37pts), Australia (18 points), Emilia Romagna (58pts), Miami (38pts), Spain (44pts), Monaco (40 points), Azerbaijan (44pts), Canada (25 points), Britain (24pts), Austria (31pts), France (37pts), Hungary (35pts), Belgium (44pts), Netherlands (36pts), Italy (34pts), Singapore (31pts), Japan (43pts) and USA (37pts).
A title in honor
“This is for Dietrich”, Max wrote on Twitter after winning on Sunday, after the day before the Austin Grand Prix, the founder of the Red Bull team and brand, Dietrich Mateschitz, died.
This one is for Dietrich 🙏
So happy we could wrap up the win and the constructors’ championship, after such an emotional weekend for everyone @redbull. The only thing we could do today was win. pic.twitter.com/Xczad35AKJ
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) October 23, 2022
Max Verstappen, the Dutchman who has Red Bull at the top
Competitive and aggressive on the track, this is how Max Verstappen is known when he competes. This driver who started his career with the Toro Rosso team is already a two-time Formula 1 champion with Red Bull.
This has been the key moments of their titles:
In the 2021, Max had a teammate who was crucial in getting the championship: Sergio “Checo” Pérez. Perhaps that was one of the points that marked the season, because when Max had problems, the Mexican was there exposing his greatest abilities to stop Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Neither in the Italian nor in the Bahrain awards, the Red Bull main driver was able to reach the finish in the first position due to errors and penalties both in the race and in qualifying. Lewis Hamilton won hands down and showed what would be a great season.
Monaco, an iconic and majestic circuit, was the start of a winning streak for Red Bull. Verstappen won pole position and dominated the race from start to finish.
From then on, it was a string of three wins in a row at the Austrian, Styrian and French awards.
The season had emotions, crashes, sanctions and scandals due to the decisions made by the referees of the races. Finally, at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, everything was defined: whoever finished in first place would be the champion.
One of the strongest points that Red Bull had was the strategy led by Christian Horner. After a clash with Nicholas Latifi, which he forced to have safety car, Verstappen took the opportunity to change his tires. Mercedes did not see the need and did not do it.
On the last lap of the race, and like everything in this season full of emotions, the Dutchman managed to overtake Hamilton, which made him the world circuit champion.
In the 2022the Max numbers are also amazing: he won at the awards in Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, United States, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Emilia Romagna, Miami, Spain, Azerbaijan, Canada, France, Hungary Belgium, Italy, Singapore, Japan and the recent one in the United States.
Verstappen’s records
In addition to being a two-time champion and leading Red Bull to the constructors’ world title, Verstappen has interesting records in his racing record:
13 race wins in a season: equaling the record of Michael Schumacher and Sebastián Vettel.
First Dutchman to compete in F1: In addition to competing, being champion twice.
The youngest: to win an F1 Grand Prix (2016).
“Checo Pérez”: protagonist of Red Bull
If Red Bull can celebrate its constructors’ championship today, it is thanks to the constant work of a Mexican who has earned the respect of the major motoring leagues: Sergio “Checo” Pérez.
It is difficult not to have the leading role and give up positions so that his teammate is the one who rises to first place, but Sergio has understood the dynamics of his team and has given in to Christian Horner’s strategies.
In addition, when the two-time champion Verstappen has not been able to add, he has been there, showing that he is not only here to be second as he did in the Grand Prix of Singapore, Great Britain, Monaco and Australia.
Mercedes: end of a hegemony that lasted 7 years
There were eight consecutive seasons in which the Mercedes team had completely dominated the Constructors’ World Championship, leaving its rivals far behind and authoritatively demonstrating its power in this category.
In the 2014hand in hand with the great work of its champion driver, Lewis Hamilton, this team achieved 16 victories, was present on 31 podiums, won 18 pole position for a total of 701 points. The second position was occupied by Red Bull, which only achieved 405 points.
In the 2015, the picture was no different and continued to rise. With Hamilton at the helm, they achieved 16 wins, 32 podium finishes, 18 poles and 13 fastest laps to be champions with 703 points. Very far, on this occasion, from Ferrari.
For him 2016, the power seemed to consolidate with greater force. They were in total: 19 victories, 34 podiums, 20 poles and 9 fastest laps to add 765 points at the end of the season.
The following year, in 2017wins dwindled and he didn’t seem to look as strong despite taking the crown: 12 wins, 26 podiums, 15 poles and 9 fastest laps for a total of 668 points. Ferrari stayed just under 150 points.
Between 2018 and the 2020Mercedes accumulated 82 appearances on the podium, 39 victories, 38 pole position and 28 fastest laps. Surprising numbers that support the titles of this team.
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