Formula 1 resumes this weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix next in line. The new technical and rule changes for the 73rd season of the sport brought us memorable and exciting moments to come. As we get a better picture of the Driver and Constructor standings after 13 races, we identify some of the talking points for the second half of the 2022 season.

Talking Points For The Second Half Of The 2022 Season

Ferrari will consider imposing team orders in the second half of the season but only "when it's the right time" #BelgianGP #F1 https://t.co/O3ZJHwBBkB

— Formula 1 (@F1) August 23, 2022

Is the championship battle over?

When Ferrari is at their best and able to play the right strategies, there’s always a good chance that they get Max Verstappen to cave in. The F1-75 is a quick car in Leclerc’s hands, but the Monegasque loses plenty of opportunities. He is 80 points behind the defending champion, with Ferrari already 90 points behind Red Bull in the Constructors’ and on the verge of losing the lead to Mercedes.

The +333 favorite to win the Belgian GP managed just one podium finish since the inaugural Miami Grand Prix. His season went out of proportion following reliability issues, strategic lapses, and personal errors. The most recent controversy happened at the Hungarian Grand Prix where the Scuderia forced Leclerc on the Hard tire despite cold conditions and the rest of the grid opting for Mediums. He dived from podium contention to a P6 finish, as Verstappen pierced his way through P1 from tenth place.

If Ferrari uses the break to iron things out and recharge the batteries, both Leclerc and Sainz have to snatch points away from Red Bull. They need to be more consistent for the remainder of the season to keep the title fight alive. The only question is whether the Italian team can execute consistent results in nine straight Grand Prix events.

The Silver Arrow story

The talking points for the second half of the 2022 season are not without Mercedes’ decline. Their current results are a reminder of Ferrari’s 2005 season. However, the Brackley-based squad managed to find band-aid solutions along the way.

Mercedes needs a miracle to win this year’s Drivers’ championship or Constructors’ title. Their main goal now is to disrupt the title fight and try to win a race with the W13. Thankfully, the entire team continues to produce positive results as they strive for improvement. Reliability has never been an issue for the Northamptonshire-based group.

In recent races, the team taps into potential alterations that shave seconds off the clock. Mercedes bagged back-to-back double podiums across France and Hungary despite the lingering concerns they have to face. Additionally, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell rank up there with the top two drivers as +500 and +800 favorites to win the upcoming GP.

The German manufacturer will try to win a few more races before 2023, and if they can overtake Ferrari in the Constructors’ standings, that would be a success for Toto Wolff, his drivers, and the rest of the squad.

Midfield skirmishes get tenser

One of the major talking points of the 2022 season was to encourage more wheel-to-wheel racing between the front-runners and the midfield teams. The tussle between Alpine and McLaren is a must-watch. They currently sit at 99 and 95 points at the Constructors’ Championship, respectively.

The duo of Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso have been reliable this season. Package that with a decent car and you have a solid midfield contender. Meanwhile, things aren’t in tip-top shape at the papaya-colored McLaren. This could be a result of an erratic driver line-up. Norris is doing all the heavy lifting with 76 points. Former Red Bull and Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo can only deliver 19 points this season.

Ricciardo and his current relationship with McLaren is a focal talking point for the second half of the Formula 1 season. It’s a case of how much more beating he can take from his younger teammate. Although the Australian is yet to deliver better results, he can still play a significant role in securing fourth once he closes the gap to Norris.

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