F1 2023 Season Review: A forgettable exciting season
FINAL CORNER, CHEQUERED FLAG: It was a season to forget for F1, but there were still exciting moments
Max Verstappen ran away with the 2023 Formula One world championship to become a three time winner.
The Dutchman joined some of the greats of the sport in earning a third world title, doing so in the most dominant fashion ever seen.
There was no thrilling championship battle akin to his first win in 2021, but there were still plenty of enjoyable moments from this year’s edition of the F1 season to keep fans invested.
Sergio Perez earned second in the standings, highlighting just how comfortable Red Bull were on their way to the Constructors crown.
But it was not so smooth for the Mexican, who only sealed his place with a return to better form in the latter stages of the campaign.
The ease with which Verstappen came from ninth to win in Miami must be seen as the turning point in Perez’s season.
Going into the fifth race the Red Bull pairing had split the Grands Prix two each and were neck-and-neck in the championship.
Perez didn’t win again for the rest of the season after failing to convert a pole position in the US, his spirit surely crushed by the manner of his defeat to his teammate, leading to the worst form of his career over the next dozen or so events.
Lewis Hamilton finished third, with his outright consistency meaning he was always earning solid points while only seldom excelling as the best of the non-Red Bulls.
The seven-time champion finished second to Verstappen three times, excluding his disqualification in Austin, while his teammate George Russell floundered to just two podiums total in the entire season.
It was Mercedes’ consistency of always delivering a solid, if unspectacular, car that allowed Hamilton to relentlessly pick away at his rivals for p3, and thus earn second in the Constructors, but it was ultimately a year to forget for everyone at Brackley.
Ferrari may even feel more optimistic going into 2024 than Mercedes despite finishing three points behind them in 2023.
Charles Leclerc struggled for much of the first half, but a floor upgrade in Japan coincided with a return to form that saw him end the year as the closest competitor to Red Bull.
But for poor timing on a safety car in Las Vegas, he surely would have beaten Verstappen on pure merit in the penultimate Grand Prix of the campaign.
Teammate Carlos Sainz wasn’t quite as consistent as Leclerc, but he did earn the only non-Red Bull victory in Singapore.
It was a tactical masterclass from the Spaniard, who was not the quickest man on the day, yet he used his smart racing awareness to take home his second win in F1.
Aston Martin should have been a competitor for Ferrari and Mercedes in the battle for second, but they ended up fifth in the standings instead.
The Silverstone team made a big splash in Bahrain when Fernando Alonso earned a debut podium, beyond his wildest expectations when he agreed to switch from Alpine in 2022.
The 42-year-old was on the podium eight times and earned his best finish in the drivers standings in 10 years by coming fourth behind Hamilton.
Stunning drives in Bahrain, the Netherlands and Brazil showed everyone that, with the right car, he could absolutely still compete for titles, as he drove his way into the 100-podium club.
Teammate Lance Stroll had a year to forget, getting off on the wrong foot when a biking accident saw him start the season with an injured wrist.
As he healed up, the car became more of a handful and he struggled to adapt as Aston Martin failed to develop the AMR23.
Still, some positive results from both drivers to end the year will have people inside the team optimistic that their blip from Austria to Mexico was just temporary, or even a necessary evil to improve next term.
McLaren’s rise to fourth was the remarkable story of the mid-season, with Lando Norris going on a journey from backmarker to podium sitter.
The Briton had a nightmare Bahrain, pitting six times due to a mechanical issue and finishing 17th on the road.
But by his home event at Silverstone, he was back on the podium and McLaren were back in contention for race wins.
One wouldn’t come despite finishing second seven times out of 22, six for Norris and one for rookie Oscar Piastri, but that first victory since 2021 will surely arrive in 2024 based on their current trajectory.
McLaren now also have potentially the most exciting driver pairing of any team on the grid after taking the risk on Piastri for 2023.
The former F3 and F2 champion proved worth the legal hassle, as he cemented himself as one of the most formidable talents the sport has seen in years.
To compete this closely with a seasoned veteran in Norris in his first year was impressive, and hopefully a sign of what’s to come once he has more experience under his belt.
The top five left the chasing pack completely in their dust, particularly once McLaren found their footing in Austria.
Alpine sat in sixth with nothing to fight for for much of the season, better than the worst but not good enough to compete with the best.
More work is needed at Enstone to get back on track, sliding from fourth down to sixth in just 12 months.
Meanwhile, Williams clinched p7 with Alex Albon earning 27 of their 28 points.
The return to form of Williams in the last year has been one of F1 23’s best stories and Albon’s reputation has perhaps been the most enhanced of any driver on the grid this season.
Yuki Tsunoda fended off three teammates to put up the biggest fight in the battle for seventh, but he has yet to show the consistency and maturity that Red Bull will surely want from any potential Alpha Tauri driver.
The 23-year-old will have a tense battle with Daniel Ricciardo on a more level playing field in 2024 which will surely be a big year for both drivers’ futures.
Alfa Romeo waved goodbye to F1 this year, earning an underwhelming ninth place.
The Sauber name will return in 2024, but this team is not one to keep an eye on until at least 2026, with everything being readied for the Audi takeover to coincide with the new engine regulations.
Meanwhile, Haas have ended up back where they were in 2020 and 2021, with a car they seemingly don’t understand and two drivers that don’t have that magic factor to extract everything from it on those rare good days.
The US outfit took a big gamble by sacrificing two whole seasons to prepare for these new 2022 regulations, but they have been left behind once again, putting them at a crossroads going into 2024.
It wasn’t the most exciting season of F1, and no one could blame anyone, hardcore or casual, for tuning out at times.
But the early signs suggest it should be closer in 2024, even if Verstappen and Red Bull are still heavy favourites.
The Dutchman may win a fourth title next year, but surely the only way is down for the energy drinks company after securing a historically dominant double in 2023.
Driver Power Rankings - 2023 season
Verstappen was near flawless all season, but the battle behind him for best of the rest was quite tight.
Hamilton had a good season, even if by his lofty standards it wasn’t much to write home about, and yet he’s fifth here.
Some midfield drivers like Albon, Gasly and Tsunoda all quietly went about their business quite well, so they crack the top 10 over names like Perez, Russell and Stroll.
Race Rankings - 2023 season
The mixed weather conditions in Zandvoort made for a compelling race from start to finish, with Verstappen overcoming his most challenging circumstances to equal Sebastian Vettel’s consecutive win record, which he later stretched to 10.
Singapore, Italy, Monaco and Las Vegas were the only races where a battle for the lead really came into play, which made them stand out.
Meanwhile, Alonso’s 20-lap battle for third in Brazil made for the duel of the year, with Bahrain, Canada, Austria and Austin all delivering solid Grands Prix.
Prediction corners
Will take a further look at my previous predictions from this year in a longer piece before the year ends.
One last one for 2023 to look ahead to next season: Mercedes will be beaten next season in the constructors by at least one customer team.
And sure, here’s one more to keep you going til pre-season: Red Bull lose more than one race in 2024.