As the season goes into the summer break, the effects of Oscar Piastri's refusal of his Alpine seat are still felt - and right in the line of fire is McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo, who had been struggling throughout the season. Indeed, McLaren has announced Ricciardo's retirement from the team after the season, with Piastri taking his spot. Meanwhile, Alpine are still reeling from the losses of Piastri and Alonso, but the Piastri fiasco has backed both Alpine and McLaren into a wall, with Alpine potentially taking Piastri to court and McLaren CEO Zak Brown potentially having to pay Piastri and Alpine - and given Ricciardo's near-consistent results back at Team Enstone back in the 2019 season, it remains unknown if he would return considering his decision to move to McLaren in 2021. The Dutch round is the first ever since the announcement, and Ricciardo and Gasly, both winners of past races, are looking to perform their best. Gasly fights with Alonso in the midfield as Ricciardo, having received fresher rubber, pushes on Vettel while Alonso manages to take Gasly up. Ricciardo continues to drop down the field as both Haas drivers pass him. Gasly finishes eleventh with Ricciardo in seventeenth. By the Japan round, Alpine announces will have a new driver in Pierre Gasly for the 2023 season.
In the Monaco Grand Prix, all eyes will be on Sergio 'Checo' Perez as Red Bull tries to extend its lead over Ferrari. With Red Bull dominating at the front, Perez faces pressure to perform as he struggles to keep up with his teammate Max Verstappen.
With Pierre Gasly announcing his departure from Alpha Tauri, Yuki Tsunoda has lost both a teammate and a friend. As Gasly leaves the Red Bull family for the first time in his career, more is expected of the young Tsunoda at Alpha Tauri, who is now being asked to prove that he is ready to take charge.
The Red Bull team is in a position to win both championships in Formula 1, but is facing accusations of cheating by exceeding the F1 budget cap. The rumors regarding whether Red Bull overspent on the cost cap budget have taken centre stage.
The 2022 Formula 1 season comes to a close in Abu Dhabi, with Ferrari fighting to stay ahead of Mercedes and McLaren hoping for a miracle to overtake Alpine. The season finale is being closely watched. This season marks the end of Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton's dominance, as Hamilton fails to take a win or pole position.
The Dutch round is the first ever since the announcement, and Ricciardo and Gasly, both winners of past races, are looking to perform their best. Gasly fights with Alonso in the midfield as Ricciardo, having received fresher rubber, pushes on Vettel while Alonso manages to take Gasly up. Ricciardo continues to drop down the field as both Haas drivers pass him. Gasly finishes eleventh with Ricciardo in seventeenth. By the Japan round, Alpine announces will have a new driver in Pierre Gasly for the 2023 season.