F1 2022 Season Preview: Sport's new era could kick-off with campaign that eclipses even 2021

Formula 1 is back! The pinnacle of motorsport returns for its 72nd year on the back of one of its most dramatic campaigns to date and yet, that said, there is every chance 2022 could eclipse it for drama and excitement.

Potentially, the levels of controversy 2021 brought will not be matched and, nor, hopefully, will the level of fury and toxicity at times, given the way the curtain came down in Abu Dhabi back in December, but that is no bad thing at all.

2022 starts afresh and in the truest sense of the word with completely overhauled rules and regulations that, Formula 1 and the FIA hopes, will bring closer, more intense racing up and down the field for the duration of a Grand Prix.

Certainly, it’s the biggest change in regulations for a generation at the very, very least, and there’s naturally an expectancy that surprises will be thrown up along the way.

Testing over the last few weeks, though it should be stressed only indicative to a certain degree, has already hinted at a slight change in the running order with Ferrari looking good to challenge the might of Red Bull and Mercedes, and there is a genuine belief the midfield pack will be closer than ever.

The driver line-up looks hugely strong, too, with four world champions on the grid, boasting 17 titles between them, plus a host of young chargers all itching to make this new era theirs.

At the top of the tree, Max Verstappen goes into 2022 as the world champion after a stunning year last time out. Yes, Abu Dhabi was controversial but over the duration of the campaign he deserved the title thoroughly, just as Lewis Hamilton would have done, and the Dutchman, you can bet, won’t want to stop at one championship.

What of Hamilton, then? The Briton returns to F1 for a