Winners And Losers Of The 2023 F1 Season

Following 22 races, the 2023 Formula One season concluded last month. Even though it was a season filled with historic racing moments, it can be summed up in four simple words: Red Bull, Max Verstappen.

The most domineering season in the history of Formula One – we’ll touch on this later – was not without its share of exhilaration for the spectators. The distance between the third and seventh-placed drivers was a mere 34 points, while the eighth driver was 25 points further behind. After failing to consistently maintain the quickest lap time in qualifying, Verstappen achieved a mere nine fastest laps, and drivers from five distinct teams occupied the podium.

Among the packed grid of teams and drivers, which one will reflect on the season with a sense of satisfaction and which one will proceed into the winter months somewhat disheartened? Let us examine the winners and losers of the 2023 Formula One season. 

The Biggest Winner: Max Verstappen & Red Bull Racing 

It goes without saying, and we should highlight the most obvious first: Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing ran wild on the competition this term. 

The 2023 title was secured by Verstappen at the Qatar Grand Prix in October. With this accomplishment, the Dutch star has now captured three consecutive championships. His victory in Abu Dhabi marked the 54th of his career. Only Michael Schumacher (91) and Lewis Hamilton (103) have won more races than Verstappen; however, at 26, Verstappen still has considerable time to increase his total and break the all-time record of most career races won.

Incredibly, he established two F1 records as well. His 19 victories this season set a new F1 record. Verstappen established the previous record of 15 victories last season as well. Moreover, with ten consecutive victories this year, the Red Bull driver surpassed the previous record of nine set by Sebastian Vettel in 2013, who also competed for Red Bull and established a new benchmark.

Additionally, Red Bull established a benchmark for the most points scored by a team in a single season, amassing 860. A Red Bull driver won all but a single race; Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz won the Singapore Grand Prix in September. This level of dominance has not been witnessed since 1988 when Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna led McLaren to victory in every race except one.

In contrast to the 1988 season, during which both McLaren drivers consistently achieved victories, Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s teammate, managed a mere two victories. Despite exhibiting a lack of consistency in his performance, he secured the second position in the Drivers’ standings.  

Loser: Alfa Romeo 

At the season’s conclusion, Alfa Romeo has left Formula One for the third time. The carmaker pioneered Formula One, competing in and winning the first two seasons. Its early 1980s competition efforts, however, were unsuccessful. 

The Swiss team Sauber, which most recently raced for Alfa Romeo, will run next season under its own banner before changing to Audi in 2026 to become the official factory team of the carmaker.

Winner: Liberty Media 

Aside from a slight stabilisation in viewership growth, the proprietors of Formula One continue to perform admirably. Their triumph in 2023 undoubtedly stands as their return to Las Vegas, forty-one years after the final Grand Prix held in Sin City. During practice, a loose metal cover on Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari caused early warning indications of trouble. Still, the race itself was a magnificent spectacle designed specifically for Las Vegas, and Liberty Media remain in the winner’s column. 

Loser: Hamilton & Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton signed a contract extension with Mercedes. Still, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner disclosed by the final race of the season that the British driver had contacted his organisation earlier in the season.

Despite the strong denials of Hamilton and Toto Wolff, it is difficult to contend that the driver would not object in the slightest to the opportunity to operate that Red Bull vehicle.

Not so long ago, punters would explore all UK gambling operators with Gambling.com strictly to find the best prices on Hamilton because he was a sure bet. However, once a dominant force, Mercedes failed to record a victory during the 2023 season for the first time since 2011.

Winner: McLaren & Fernando Alonso 

Antiquated and obsolete? A transfer from Alpine to Aston Martin was considered risky for a 42-year-old who had returned to Formula One in 2021 after a three-year absence; given that Alpine accumulated three times as many points in 2022, it was even a foolhardy risk. However, while Alonso achieved a single podium during his two-year tenure with Alpine, he secured eight this season, placing him in fourth place overall and surpassing compatriot Lance Stroll by a significant margin. The ancient dog still possesses vitality and, with any luck, another triumph.

The dispute with Alpine regarding who would receive Oscar Piastri came first, followed by the car’s abhorrent performance. They began the season as backmarkers and team leader Lando Norris did not finish above sixth place until Austria, the ninth race of the season. Seven podium finishes followed for Norris, while Piastri took the Qatar sprint win. They finished fourth in the Constructor’s Championship and will attempt to improve upon that standing in 2024.

Loser: Alpine 

What if we informed you that a group dismissed its team principal for doubting the group’s ability to secure a quick victory, only to discover that neither he nor the departing technical director had a succession plan in place? That is Alpine in action!

Alpine’s initial objective for the season was to build upon its P4 F1 championship result from the previous year and earn a handful of podium finishes. The team achieved only two podium finishes in 2023 and is currently in disarray.

The team lacks a technical director and a principal and is subject to significant negative publicity. The prospects for the team aspiring to emulate the French Ferrari of Formula One appear grim.

Winner: Pirelli Tyres 

A contract is a mutually beneficial agreement. Frequently subjected to severe criticism inside the WRC for its perceived inadequacy, the tyre maker has found considerably greater satisfaction in the realm of F1. Tyres are consistently included in discussions because various compounds provide drivers with different challenges to overcome. 

Pirelli reentered the sport in 2011 and recently entered into a prolonged agreement that spans from the 2025 to 2027 seasons, possibly extending it to 2028.

Loser: Haas 

This particular instance was unexpected. Which team do you believe came in last place in the constructors championship? Alfa Romeo, Williams, and AlphaTauri all had average seasons, but Haas, while frequently reaching Q3 of qualifying, only accumulated a mere 12 points. Their car exhibited a design flaw that resulted in a substantial decrease in race performance, ultimately leading to a season that was a complete disaster.

Final Thoughts  

The future of some drivers remains questionable. Can anyone defeat Verstappen? Will Perez retain his position for the upcoming season, given Ricciardo’s return to the grid? Can Ferrari and Mercedes achieve the remarkable comebacks they have been envisioning? Is it possible that Lando Norris will get his inaugural victory in Formula 1? Irrespective of the drivers who stay on the starting line or the uncertainties of the upcoming 2024 season, we will all eagerly await the race’s commencement in Bahrain.