2022 Driver Standings: How the Abu Dhabi GP Impacted the Formula 1 World Championship

Introduction

The 2022 Formula 1 season reached its climax at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen securing his second consecutive Drivers' Championship. However, the race had a significant impact on the final standings, affecting the positions of several drivers.

Top Drivers Impacted

Max Verstappen (Red Bull): Verstappen's victory in Abu Dhabi boosted his points tally by 25, solidifying his position as the Drivers' Champion. He extended his lead over his rivals and finished the season with 454 points.

Sergio Perez (Red Bull): Perez's strong performance at Yas Marina, securing third place, helped him leapfrog Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in the standings. He finished the season with 305 points, claiming second place in the championship.

Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): Despite a sixth-place finish in Abu Dhabi, Leclerc maintained his third place overall. He finished the season with 290 points, just 15 points behind Perez.

Other Notable Changes

The Abu Dhabi GP also affected the standings outside the top three. Fernando Alonso (Alpine) and Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) swapped positions, with Alonso finishing fifth and Vettel dropping to sixth. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and George Russell (Mercedes) retained their seventh and eighth positions, respectively.

At the bottom of the standings, Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) and Mick Schumacher (Haas) failed to score points and ended the season in 13th and 16th place, respectively.

Conclusion

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was a decisive race that significantly impacted the final Formula 1 World Championship standings. It saw Max Verstappen crowned champion, Sergio Perez secure second place, and Charles Leclerc maintain his position in third. The remainder of the standings also witnessed some notable changes, as drivers battled for the best possible positions to end the season.