The 2023 Formula 1 season is upon us, so with the first race weekend in Bahrain fast approaching, a preview is in order. New drivers and old drivers moving teams mean there are plenty of grid changes this season, and while the usual pecking order of the teams is unlikely to change dramatically, pre-season testing has shown some signs of what is to come. Revealed some possible storylines for.
With that, let’s dive straight into every hot topic we know about the 2023 season.
Red Bull is still on top … for now
Red Bull and Max Verstappen walked away with both the Drivers’ Championship and the Constructors’ Championship last season – with the help of Sergio Pérez – so it’s no surprise that Red Bull are still favorites to win this season. The 2022 F1 season saw all-new cars with a new design which caused a major shock in the running order, pushing Mercedes down the order and catapulting Ferrari and Red Bull to the top.
Pre-season testing revealed many things for 2023, but it is safe to say that Red Bull is still the one to beat going into the first race weekend. How Red Bull’s performance progresses as the season progresses still remains to be seen. Being the previous season’s champions, Red Bull were automatically given less wind tunnel time for this season’s development. Plus, the penalty for breaching the 2021 cost cap will cause Red Bull to spend even more time wind tunnel testing. Ferrari are close on the heels of Red Bull, so there could be a battle for the top all season long.
Could Aston Martin Have A Breakout Season?
The biggest surprise of pre-season testing was Aston Martin’s pace. Fernando Alonso joined Aston this year, leaving behind Alpine and Otmar Szafner he believes has a better chance of being near the top. After testing ended, Alonso’s pace in race distance testing painted the Aston’s performance in a very pleasing spot. The real question will be where Aston finds itself on race weekend. Mercedes are still expected to be at least the third best team on the grid, but if Aston Martin finds something special with their 2023 car, Mercedes may have more problems than initially thought.
Despite all the good news for Aston recently, Lance Stroll is still doubtful after a cycling accident.
Bad start for Mercedes and McLaren
The two teams that disappointed the most in pre-season testing were Mercedes and McLaren. Mercedes’ driver lineup with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell remains the same for 2023, but a number of technical issues limited the amount of Mercedes’ testing, and the car still lacked the performance of top runners such as Red Bull and Ferrari .
McLaren also had reliability problems, which led to the lowest number of miles driven in Bahrain. Lando Norris and Oscar Piatri (making their F1 debut) will have their work cut out for them when racing resumes, as low verification miles coupled with respective performances could put McLaren on the backfoot to start the year.
What about American?
Yes, once again an American driver has made it to Formula 1. Logan Sargent will become the first American driver in almost 8 years to take a place on the grid. Alexander Rossi was the last American to race in F1, and before him, there was Scott Speed who was fired in the 2007 season. Needless to say, American drivers haven’t done well in F1 so far this century. Sargent will race for Williams this year, and while he won’t be competing for wins, Williams didn’t look half bad in pre-season testing. In his first season on the grid, Sargent will have more home races than any other driver as F1 comes to Miami, Austin and Las Vegas in 2023.
las vegas seems like a farce
Formula 1 has made the new race in Las Vegas for 2023 a much-hyped spectacle. The series brought cars, drivers and teams to shoot promotional videos in the off-season, and a ton of online marketing saw F1 highlight Vegas. The Street Circuit will see F1 cars hitting the infamous Las Vegas Strip and zipping by derelict hotels. It would also be the only race on the calendar held on a Saturday rather than a Sunday, breaking tradition. News also keeps circulating of it being the most expensive ticket on the race calendar in 2023, which seems only fitting for a city where everyone goes to lose money.
it’s going to be a long season
With 23 races on the schedule this year, the 2023 F1 season promises to be F1’s longest ever. It is set to kick off at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 26th November where we can expect to see a battle for the championship just like the dramatic end to the 2021 F1 season. With all that said, below you will find a schedule of events coming this year. Set your alarm or get recording, because great racing is just about to come.
March 5 – Bahrain Grand Prix
March 19 – Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
April 2 – Australian Grand Prix
April 30 – Azerbaijan Grand Prix
May 7 – Miami Grand Prix
May 21 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
May 28 – Monaco Grand Prix
June 4 – Spanish Grand Prix
June 18 – Canadian Grand Prix
2 July – Austrian Grand Prix
9 July – British Grand Prix
23 July – Hungarian Grand Prix
July 30 – Belgian Grand Prix
27 August – Dutch Grand Prix
September 3 – Italian Grand Prix
17 September – Singapore Grand Prix
September 24 – Japanese Grand Prix
October 8 – Qatar Grand Prix
October 22 – US Grand Prix
October 29 – Mexican Grand Prix
November 5 – Brazilian Grand Prix
November 18 – Las Vegas Grand Prix
26 November – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
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