F1 fans name most controversial moment of 2022 and best race

Lewis Hamilton opens up on difficult season for Mercedes

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Red Bull’s budget cap saga has been voted the biggest controversy of the 2022 F1 season by Express Sport readers. In an exclusive poll, a massive 57.5 per cent of over 14,000 respondents selected Red Bull’s breach, making it the clear winner.

The team were slapped with a financial and sporting penalty after they were found guilty of overspending by £1.8million ($2.2m) in 2021. However, the FIA admitted the team would have only spent £432,000 ($0.5m) over the threshold if their tax reports had been submitted correctly.

The team were forced to pay a staggering £6.4million ($7m) fine as a penalty and were hit with a 10 per cent reduction in wind tunnel and CFD testing for next season in a major blow. Christian Horner branded the punishment a “draconian” measure and even suggested it could affect Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez by around half a second per lap in 2023.

Mercedes’ porpoising struggles were the second biggest controversy after picking up a massive 17.1 per cent of votes. The Silver Arrows campaigned hard for rules changes mid-season after Lewis Hamilton suffered severe back pains at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Horner and Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto tried to fight back but the FIA sided with the German manufacturer. They introduced a tool to check bouncing mid-season and teams will have to raise their floor edges for 2023 under a range of tweaks.

Lewis Hamilton’s jewellery debate with the FIA came third with 13.4 per cent while Max Verstappen’s Sky Sports boycott received 12 per cent in the poll. The Red Bull star and double world champion refused to speak to the broadcaster in Mexico after Ted Kravitz suggested Hamilton had been “robbed” of an eighth world title.

However, it was celebrations for George Russell who secured the prize for the best race of 2022.

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His commanding first career victory in Brazil was selected by 48.9 per cent of voters as the standout Grand Prix of 2022. The event was also noted for a collision between Verstappen and Hamilton and a stunning sprint race which saw Russell secure pole for Sunday’s race.

The action-packed British Grand Prix at Silverstone received the support of 33.4 per cent. Meanwhile, 17.7 per cent selected the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix which saw a titanic battle for the win between Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.

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