Spanish Grand Prix predictions 2022: Winner and teams to watch
Our predictions for the Spanish Grand Prix in 2022, including who we think will win and teams to watch in Barcelona.
Red Bull will be desperate to maintain their momentum in the 2022 Formula 1 season when the action gets under way at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen has won all three races that he has finished this season with two DNFs due to issues with his car. Those reliability problems appear to be fixed and he's got Charles Leclerc in his sights.
Leclerc still leads the F1 driver standings following a remarkable start to the campaign for Ferrari. He remains a top contender, but recent races have just drifted out of his grasp with Verstappen gaining in influence.
Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez has also looked impressive in 2022, while Carlos Sainz is making a comeback from a ropey couple of first-lap DNFs. McLaren are rising up through the rankings, spearheaded by Lando Norris, while Mercedes' issues remain, much to the frustration of Lewis Hamilton.
Fans around the world will be keen to tune in for the return to Europe around a classic track that drivers know all too well given its status as the pre-season testing track.
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RadioTimes.com brings you our top predictions ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix in 2022.
Spanish Grand Prix predictions
1. Max Verstappen wins by 10+ seconds
Max Verstappen is yet to have a poor performance in 2022 so far. Every time his car survives the rigours of a Grand Prix, he has won. In five races, he has stood on top of the podium three times and recorded two DNFs out of his control.
The average winning margin at the Circuit de Barcelona-Cataluyna is more than 16 seconds. The last 10 races have been won by an average of 9.95 seconds. You can see where we're going with this.
Verstappen's issues in 2022 have been almost entirely out of his domain. When the car works, he does. Back to back victories show that Red Bull are winning their war with reliability and the reigning world champion could dominate in Spain.
2. Fernando Alonso finishes in the top 10
The former world champion has been dealt blow after blow in 2022 thanks to a pair of DNFs and a point-stealing five-second penalty in Miami.
Alpine haven't delivered competitive results, but they have shown flashes of competitive pace. Alonso will be desperate to harness the potential in his homeland.
The 40-year-old still has the hunger and spark to light up an F1 circuit, he just needs the rub of the green, 50:50 moments to fall in his favour, and points will come along. Spain could be a springboard for Alonso in 2022.
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3. Mercedes resurgence
Mercedes aren't done yet. Toto Wolff will not relent in his search for the cure to the team's ailments.
The German constructers look set to roll out a series of upgrades having been able to take time to reflect on their machine so far in 2022. It could be a make-or-break weekend for Mercedes.
We're going to lean on the side of 'make'. The extremely talented team behind the scenes are no mugs, they have multiple years of total domination behind them and now is the time to start deploying every trick up their sleeves. We're tipping Mercedes for a strong weekend in Barcelona.
Who will win the Spanish Grand Prix?
As mentioned, Verstappen is absolutely the man to beat in 2022. Charles Leclerc is firmly in the title picture, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez are in terrific cars and you can never discount Mercedes from staging a seismic turnaround, but right now Max Verstappen looks unstoppable.
Winner: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
How to watch Spanish Grand Prix on TV
The Spanish Grand Prix will air live on Sky Sports F1 from 12:30pm on Sunday 22nd May 2022.
All races will be shown live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event throughout the season.
Sky customers can add individual channels for just £18 per month or add the complete sports package to their deal for just £25 per month.
There will also be free-to-air highlights of the race on Channel 4 from 6:30pm on Sunday.
Live stream Spanish Grand Prix online
Existing Sky Sports customers can live stream the race via the Sky Go app on a variety of devices.
You can watch the Grand Prix with a NOW Day Membership for £11.99 or a Monthly Membership for £33.99, all without signing up to a contract.
NOW can be streamed through a computer or apps found on most smart TVs, phones and consoles. NOW is also available via BT Sport.
If you’re looking for something else to watch, check out our TV Guide or visit our Sport hub.
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