Over a record 23 races spanning almost nine months, the 2023 Formula One season is certain to be another unpredictable, thrilling and hard-fought championship.
Reigning champion Max Verstappen is favourite to claim the drivers' title for a third successive season, with Charles Leclerc hoping to triumph for the first time and seven-time winner Lewis Hamilton considered a long shot behind the pair by bookmakers.
Is tipping Verstappen again justified? How will rookies Oscar Piastri, Nyck de Vries and Logan Sargeant fare? Who's going to have a surprisingly underwhelming season, and which tracks will stand out or prove a chore?
The Sporting News' Sergio Rabinal, Joshua Mayne, Nathan Evans, Agustín Aboy and Mauro Mariani joined forces to discuss the 2023 F1 season.
Who will win the F1 drivers' championship in 2023?
Sergio Rabinal: Max Verstappen.
Joshua Mayne: Verstappen. After a dominant 2022, Verstappen deserves to be the favourite for this campaign. Clinching three consecutive titles is no easy feat but the Dutchman’s confidence, consistency, aggression and sheer speed put him in great stead. It will likely be a tighter championship fight in 2023, but Verstappen has proven he has the ability and desire to get results.
Nathan Evans: Verstappen. After a solid showing from Red Bull throughout 2023 preseason testing, it’s just so difficult to see how anyone could catch the Dutchman again this season. Not only did he break the record for most victories ever in a single F1 season last year, but Red Bull also continue to put out arguably the most reliable car on the grid.
Agustín Aboy: Verstappen.
Mauro Mariani: Verstappen. The Dutchman will enter the history books by becoming a three-time champion. I don't see a driver or car capable of approaching his level.
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Who's going to triumph in the F1 constructors' championship?
Sergio Rabinal: Mercedes.
Joshua Mayne: Mercedes. It’s difficult to predict which constructor will thrive this year before we see them in a competitive race, but there appears to be an aura of quiet confidence surrounding Mercedes.
Last year was obviously an off-year but they are proven winners and will be determined to get to the top again this season. While Verstappen is my tip for the drivers’ championship, the reliable and balanced combination of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell could give the Silver Arrows the edge in the constructors’ battle.
Nathan Evans: Red Bull. With an in-form Verstappen at your disposal, it’s difficult to envisage anything other than another Constructors' title for Red Bull this season.
Sergio Perez showcased his ability last season to put valuable points on the board when needed, too – and with the Austrian team's solid reliability, I’d expect more success for them again this season.
Keep an eye out for Aston Martin as well. They won’t take the title but I can see them causing some upsets in the opening few races in particular.
Agustín Aboy: Red Bull.
Mauro Mariani: Red Bull. We're very likely to get a repeat of what they showed in 2022 – perhaps by a greater distance.
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What's the best race going to be in 2023 F1?
Sergio Rabinal: Brazil.
Joshua Mayne: Monza. The Italian Grand Prix has delivered some exciting races and unlikely results in recent years, headlined by Pierre Gasly’s triumph in 2020 and Daniel Ricciardo’s victory in 2021.
While last year was lacklustre compared to Monza’s high standards, we are hopefully set for another entertaining race at the Temple of Speed.
The juxtaposition of fast, sweeping corners and crafty chicanes means there are multiple overtaking opportunities. The atmosphere of the famous Tifosi also makes the race weekend a memorable spectacle, regardless of the on-track action.
Agustín Aboy: Silverstone.
Nathan Evans: Silverstone. Look, I’ll sound biased as a British F1 fan but the atmosphere at Silverstone every season is fantastic.
Hundreds of thousands of fans turn up and, with three British drivers on the grid again this season, there’s very much a sense of ‘anything can happen’, as seen with Carlos Sainz’s win in 2022. The inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix should prove exciting as well!
Mauro Mariani: Las Vegas. It goes without saying that the focus won't only be on the race. There is no way that the entertainment capital will put on a bad show on its return to La Máxima.
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Which F1 race is going to be the worst of 2023?
Sergio Rabinal: Spain.
Joshua Mayne: Miami. There is no denying that last year’s Miami Grand Prix was a bucket-load of fun off the track. The celebrities, the lay-out, the weather – it was definitely a captivating event.
However, the actual on-track racing left a lot to be desired, with the street circuit nature meaning it was difficult for cars to overtake. The novelty of a race in Miami may wear off this season, unfortunately.
Nathan Evans: Miami. In terms of pure racing last year, the Miami Grand Prix offered very little. In essence, the track is difficult to overtake on and it doesn’t really offer much in terms of having a sweeping, flowing feel which the best tracks on the calendar have.
Agustín Aboy: Miami.
Mauro Mariani: Monza. Beyond the speed offered by the Italian circuit, the race is likely to disappoint. Red Bull will sweep the Ferrari field.
Based on performance, who's going to be the best driver?
Sergio Rabinal: Lando Norris.
Joshua Mayne: Gasly. After a dramatic mid-season demotion at Red Bull in 2019, Gasly appears ready again to fight in the top half of the grid.
Aside from last year’s underwhelming campaign, he consistently out-performed his AlphaTauri and deservedly earned a move to Alpine.
While multiple podiums are unlikely, expect Gasly to regularly feature in Q3 and amass frequent points throughout 2023.
Nathan Evans: Fernando Alonso. If preseason testing was anything to go by in Bahrain, Aston Martin look like they’ve put together a solid car for 2023 which, in the hands of the veteran, could come alive in race pace.
The Spaniard showcased his ability in the Alpine in parts in 2022 - especially by taking P2 during qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix - and I think he could find his way onto the podium at least once this season.
Agustín Aboy: Russell.
Mauro Mariani: Pérez. Checo, once again under the magnifying glass, will show what he is made of and will add more victories to his record in order to continue expanding his records. Expect a great 2023 from him in a very competitive car.
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Who's going to be the biggest F1 disappointment?
Sergio Rabinal: Pérez.
Joshua Mayne: Lance Stroll. The Canadian has never finished higher than 11th in the drivers’ championship, and the racing gods are already working against him this season.
He will miss testing after being involved in a cycling accident, which will likely mean he takes time to adjust to the new car when he eventually returns.
On top of this, he will be playing catch-up with a veteran in Alonso, who you would back to hit the ground running. It could be a mental and physical challenge ahead for Stroll.
Nathan Evans: Norris. This isn’t a knock on him, far from it – but after preseason testing in Bahrain, it looks like McLaren will be considerably weaker this season than most fans and pundits were expecting.
As a result, you’d imagine that even top-10 finishes will be hard to come by in 2023 and, given that we’ve seen Norris in the hunt for podium spots this season, he could really struggle for points this time around.
Agustín Aboy: Stroll.
Mauro Mariani: Gasly. The Frenchman joined Alpine with much fanfare but his departure from AlphaTauri will be a step back in his aspiration to fight at the top of the leaderboard. I forecast a catastrophic season for French drivers, including Esteban Ocon.
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Rookie of the Year – Sargeant, Piastri or De Vries?
Sergio Rabinal: Piastri.
Joshua Mayne: Piastri. The pressure will be on the young Australian to deliver in his debut season, but his impressive résumé puts him in good stead despite a one-year break from racing.
Winning F2 and F3 in consecutive campaigns is no easy feat, and he has proven he can adapt to new machinery. It’s unlikely he will out-perform Norris in 2023 but he has the ability to push his new teammate each and every weekend.
Nathan Evans: Sargeant. It looked like the Formula One dream was over for the American driver at one point, so to even be making his debut in the sport is a massive success.
That said, he looked very quick in F2 last season and I can see him bringing that form with him to motorsport’s highest level in 2023.
For Williams, taking top-10 finishes is a measure of success and I could definitely see him obtaining a fair few this year.
Agustín Aboy: De Vries.
Mauro Mariani: De Vries. His debut in 2022 was positive and, in a full season, he will prove his talent. His performances will tempt bigger teams.
What's your bold prediction for the F1 2023 season?
Sergio Rabinal: McLaren and Aston Martin will beat Alpine to fourth spot in the championship. Again, reliability will be the key for the French team, despite having a strong car. Mercedes’ engines could lock three of the first five positions in the Championship.
Joshua Mayne: Gasly will claim at least one pole position. The Frenchman had an underwhelming season last year at AlphaTauri but outperformed his car - particularly in qualifying - in 2021.
His move to Alpine is undoubtedly an upgrade, so he could regularly feature in Q3 this campaign. If he is able to put a perfect lap together at one of this year’s Grand Prix, he may even potentially snag pole.
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Nathan Evans: Alonso to finish on the podium at least once. I mentioned Aston Martin before and I really think they could surprise this season.
Their car looks like a solid all-round product and if the six drivers at the top - Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull - slip up, I could see Alonso using all his experience to pounce on any errors in front of him on the road.
Agustín Aboy: I wanted to say that Alonso will get a podium. But since Nathan already took that route, I’ll go with either Alpine or Aston Martin getting a win.
Mauro Mariani: Verstappen will break the record of most wins in a season (15).
