By Daily Sports Nigeria on March 16, 2022

Tipping five potential new stars for the 2022 season - including George Russell as he prepares to battle Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes and fellow young Briton Lando Norris; Watch the season-opening Bahrain GP live only on Sky Sports F1 this weekend.

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were in a league of their own last year during an incredible title battle - partly helped by their Mercedes and Red Bull cars being so much faster than the rest.

But with new rules set to shake up the sport and close up the pack, there are plenty of drivers lining up to be known as F1's next big star.

Nobody has a better chance to rise - both up the grid and in fans' estimations - than George Russell this year.

Despite spending his first three seasons at the back with Williams, Russell has to many displayed the makings of a future world champion during his F1 career, consistently extracting the maximum out of his car - particularly in qualifying where he has a quite incredible record - while also showing maturity beyond his years.

It has been obvious for a while that it was a matter of when and not if Mercedes decided to end his 'loan' at Williams and pair him up with Lewis Hamilton, and Russell now gets his big chance in 2022.

He is verging on the complete package for Mercedes. Still young but with F1 experience, extremely successful when also taking into his junior career into account, and also as much a proven commodity as the team could hope for given he shone when stepping in for Hamilton back in Bahrain two years ago.

This, meanwhile, is not just a golden ticket for Russell in terms of landing with the sport's eight-time world champions, it is also a win-win as not many will expect him to defeat Hamilton in his first season. Beat F1's most successful driver in his maiden season, and Russell's career could be made.

"We expect a lot from him but maybe people don't expect him to win a championship in a first car that allows him to have that chance," said Sky F1's Anthony Davidson. "That would make him a star.

"Can he break out of the mould of someone who can just qualify well, and become rock-solid, top the timesheets every session and be a race winner, fight for a championship? This is his moment to shine."

A breakout star? With eight poles and two wins? I know, I know - but after two years stuck in the midfield in an underperforming Ferrari, perhaps people have forgotten just how special Charles Leclerc is. And maybe 2022 is the year he proves his standing as a perennial title contender.

In truth, Leclerc has shown he has it ever since joining the F1 grid back in 2018. The Monegasque was an immediate wonder back at Sauber before Ferrari unsurprisingly immediately lifted their young star to the senior team.

And Leclerc, remember, was the man who effectively ended Vettel's career in red. While Ferrari openly said Vettel was their No 1 driver, Leclerc quickly put paid to that idea, asserting himself as not just the four-time world champion's equal, but as the faster driver. 2019, indeed, was a stunning year for Leclerc as he claimed more poles than any other driver as well as two victories - including at the Ferrari-mad Monza.

But then, Ferrari's slump happened. Unable to compete at the front consistently with the Scuderia's package from the last two years, Leclerc has only been able to show his talent in spurts - and he has still claimed unexpected poles and podiums. Granted, he would have been expected to beat Carlos Sainz last year, although the Spaniard outscoring him is more testament to his talent than a disappointing year for Leclerc.

And now, with Ferrari seemingly back in contention, Leclerc has his chance to prove himself again.

"We've seen Leclerc's talent in the past," said Sky F1's Johnny Herbert. "He's showed he's got what it takes from a mental point of view."

Source Sky Sports

Posted March 16, 2022

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