Bold Predictions for the 2023 f1 season

Formula OneF!

Jan 15

London, United Kingdom (PSF) — Following one of the most chaotic “silly” seasons in recent memory, the 2023 F1 grid is set. 2023 will see six new driver pairings, including three rookies. But who will come out on top in the second year of the new regulations? Here are some predictions for the new season.

1. There will be a 3 team fight for the championship

In 2022, F1 fans saw something they haven’t seen in a while; Mercedes struggling. Mercedes was the dominant force for eight seasons, collecting all but one trophy (the 2021 driver’s championship) from 2014-2021. In 2022 however, the team's “zeropod” design led to massive porpoising (repeated bouncing due to a low ride height and ground effect floors) and they struggled to compete with the top two teams, Red Bull and Ferrari. Despite some late season heroics from George Russell (Pole in Hungary and the race win in Brazil) the silver arrows finished P3 in the constructors, their lowest finish since P5 in 2012. Don’t expect them to stay down though. Toto Wolff has repeatedly claimed that they made too many mistakes this season, but it won’t happen again.

Ferrari showed brilliance in the early parts of the 2022 season, and some thought it would finally be the year a title returned to Maranello. Unfortunately, botched strategy, costly mistakes (Leclerc spun out twice while leading a race in 2022) and poor engine reliability saw the prancing horse’s first title shot in years prove unfruitful. That being said, Ferrari nailed the new regulations, and the team was nearly untouchable in qualifying trim. Expect them to come back strong next season, hopefully addressing the strategy errors with new team principal Fred Vasseur, who will be moving from Alfa Romeo to replace Mattia Binotto.

Finally, Red Bull, who after usurping Mercedes in 2021 for the driver’s title, roared into 2022 with a truly dominant season. Max Verstappen won 15/21 races to secure the driver’s championship and Sergio Perez picked up another two victories to bring the team's season total to 17 wins, which was easily enough to win the constructors title as well. Verstappen is arguably the best driver on the grid right now, and he shows no signs of slowing down coming off of his back to back world championships.

In 2023, these teams will all compete to the wire for the constructors and drivers championships, with Mercedes returning to the front of the pack, Ferrari fixing the growing pains of last year, and Red Bull hoping to continue their dominating success. It should be a fun fight at the top.

2. P4 is anyone’s game

While in past years, where the “pecking order” remains relatively unchanged from season to season, the combination of new regulations and the all-powerful cost cap may introduce a shakeup in the midfield. Teams like Alpine and McLaren have been dueling for the best of the rest spot for a couple years now, but expect a few more teams to toss their hat in the ring in 2023.

Aston Martin looks poised to break into the midfield, after an extremely successful second half of 2022. Plus, Fernando Alonso will be joining the team, replacing the departing four time world champion Sebastian Vettel. Expect the team to regularly challenge for points, and even for the podium at races which suit their car. Lance Stroll will hope for a few more points next season, as he ended his 2022 campaign with just under half the points haul of his veteran teammate.

Valtteri Bottas proved he still has what it takes to perform at a high level, even without the assistance of a dominant car. Alfa Romeo will be looking to improve on their P6 result from last season, and they have all the tools needed to do so. Zhou Guanyu had a respectable rookie season, and the team will hope he can come into his stride for next season alongside Bottas.

Finally, Haas may be due for a best of the rest challenge. Despite the trainwreck that was the 2021 season, the return of Kevin Magnussen brought some much needed results to the US based team in 2022. With a stunning P5 on return in Bahrain, and perhaps the shock of the season, pole position in Brazil, Magnussen proved that he has every right to stay on the grid. Incoming veteran teammate Nico Hulkenberg will add valuable experience, and hopefully eliminate some of the costly crashes caused by the departing Mick Schumacher. The 2022 Haas car had some serious pace at times, and if the Ferrari power unit reliability improves, Haas could compete at the top of the midfield. The team also will have solid financial backing for the first time in a few seasons, bringing in Moneygram as a name partner. It’s even possible we could see the team's maiden podium in 2023.

3. Oscar Piastri will struggle at McLaren in his rookie season

In 2022, the only driver outside of the top 3 teams to take a podium was Lando Norris at Imola. Whilst Norris consistently outperformed his midfield car, teammate Daniel Ricciardo struggled significantly, only scoring 37 points to Norris’ 122. Norris has been at McLaren for the entirety of his F1 career, and because of this, has asserted himself as the teams no. 1 driver. Piastri will have to adapt to a car which will be designed towards Norris’ strengths, in addition to acclimating to life in F1. Remember, Daniel Ricciardo was supposed to be Driver no. 1 at McLaren when he came in, so expectations aren’t always met. Time will tell.

4. Lewis Hamilton will win more than 3 races

Despite having 9 podiums and finishing P6 in the final driver’s standings, 2022 could be viewed as Lewis Hamilton’s worst season in F1. Don’t expect him to stay down though. Mercedes surged after the summer break, and took their lone win of the season in Brazil, although it was teammate George Russell who claimed victory. Still, Lewis showed solid pace and veteran wit in a string of podiums after the summer break. He will be back with a vengeance as Mercedes finally gets it right for 2023.

5. Danny Ric will drive in a Race this year

2023 could be a sad year for some fans following the departure of fan-favorite driver, Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo, known for shoey’s and his exciting personality, struggled with McLaren, despite achieving the team’s lone win since 2012. After being let go by McLaren, he finds himself back where it all began, as a reserve driver for Red Bull. Tensions between Red Bull’s two main men, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, continue to rise, and it’s not really hard to guess which driver the team would back if the relationship got too messy. Red Bull will be keen to see if Ricciardo will be a suitable replacement for Perez, just in case things become too broken to fix. Either through a sick driver in any of the four vacancies at AlphaTauri and Red Bull, or just Red Bull changing things up, don’t be surprised to see DR3 in at least one grand prix in 2023