Your Guide to F1 2023

A Complete Guide to the 2023 Formula 1 Season

We’ve waited for more than 3 months, but finally, the 2023 F1 season is upon us.

Our Lead F1 writer, Charlie Widdicombe, provides a full guide to the 2023 Formula 1 season

Pre-season testing at Bahrain

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 Formula 1 season to hit the ground running when the lights go out in Bahrain.

A New Kind of Silly Season

Last year saw a flurry of dramatic moves in the driver market, but it was the team principals that obliged in a  game of merry-go-round over the summer.

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has been replaced by Alfa Romeo’s Fred Vasseur.

Alfa Romeo then poached McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl, with McLaren promoting Andrea Stella - a former Ferrari employee - to replace Seidl.

What’s more, Williams boss Jost Capito made an unexpected departure, with the team recruiting Mercedes Chief Strategist, James Vowles.

Just a few years ago, such figures would be considered unknowns by a mainstream F1 fan, but the inside track created by Netflix’s Drive to Survive has made many a team principal a familiar face.

A New Dominance?

2022 saw a huge overhaul of the technical regulations and with it, a newly established pecking order, as Red Bull finally broke the dominance of Mercedes and ran away with both driver’s and constructor’s titles.

With minimal regulation changes for 2023, expectations for any seismic changes in competitiveness are low - something that was only reinforced by the seamlessness of Red Bull in pre-season testing.

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen will be extremely tough to beat, armed with the fastest car and one of the smoothest operating teams in the business, combined with his supreme consistency and frightening pace that threatens to emulate the aura of Michael Schumacher-era supremacy.

All is not lost, though. Red Bull faces penalties for breaching the cost cap that limits their aerodynamic testing.

Whilst the impact of this won’t be seen immediately, it could have an effect on their in-season development and bring the chasing pack closer.

Pre-Season Speculation

Aston Martin is heavily touted as this season’s surprise package.

Having only finished 7th in last season’s constructor’s title, they experienced a seamless 3-day test in Bahrain and may finally provide 2-time champion Fernando Alonso with a car capable of challenging for podiums for the first time in a decade.

The once all-conquering McLaren team have struggled throughout the 3 days of testing in Bahrain, and they look in real trouble.

Having slipped behind their rivals for 2 years in a row, don’t be surprised to see the axe swinging on some key technical or managerial figures should they fail to improve.

Then there’s Ferrari, who have made such changes following a season of unreliability and strategic howlers, despite producing a race-winning car.

They are surely the only realistic challenges to Red Bull - and will need to prove they have made the right internal changes to take a step forward operationally.

Driver Dynamics

There are plenty of driver swaps that create interesting inter-team intrigue, and a number of new faces to look out for.

The top 3 teams are unchanged.

Max Verstappen will expect to dominate Sergio Perez at Red Bull, whilst Carlos Sainz will hope to challenge Charles Leclerc’s de facto status as number 1 Ferrari driver.

George Russell and Lewis Hamilton create a formidable, all-British Mercedes lineup that will hope to compete regularly for wins.

Alpine has gone full French, with Pierre Gasly joining Esteban Ocon and both drivers aiming to put behind personal differences between the two.

It’s one Aussie out for another at McLaren, as highly-rated rookie Oscar Piastri replaces Daniel Ricciardo's torch alongside Lando Norris.

Alfa Romeo hopes to consolidate their place in the midfield, with Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu both entering a second season with the Swiss-based outfit.

Aston Martin has high hopes, with Fernando Alonso joining from Alpine.

Lance Stroll suffered wrist injuries in a bike crash a few weeks ago and is fighting to be passed fit for the season opener, so could be replaced by reserve driver Felipe Drugovich.

Haas will hope to do the same and has opted for experience, with Nico Hulkenberg returning to F1 after 3 years away, partnering with Kevin Magnussen.

Alpha Tauri had a disappointing 2022 and will expect to improve on 9th place as a bare minimum, with Yuki Tsunoda joined by Dutch rookie, former Formula 2 and Formula E champion Nyck de Vries.

Last and probably last again, Williams’ aim will be to fight regularly for points this season, with the impressive Alex Albon and American rookie Logan Sargeant.

What Happens in Vegas…

The calendar is the longest in F1’s history, with 23 races starting in Bahrain and finishing in Abu Dhabi in November.

There is one brand new track, with F1 going to Las Vegas for the very first time, even racing down the famous Las Vegas strip.

This is the 3rd race in the USA - along with Miami and Austin (Texas) - showing F1’s increasing desire and success in appealing to the American market.

There are no other brand new tracks, but F1 returns to Qatar after a 1-year gap in order to accommodate last year’s football World Cup.

So, what’s going to happen in the 2023 Formula 1 Season?

Let’s not shy away from the fact that Max Verstappen and Red Bull have everything in place to make this another dominant season.

If that’s the case, then there’s still so much more to get focus, especially in the modern-era coverage that provides fans with so much more insight into each driver on track.

Who’s going to take the prize money? Who is going to fall out with who? Will Miami be a race or a party?

There is plenty of off-track intrigue that will rumble on as F1 constantly seeks to evolve towards new territory and appeal to the masses.

Stay tuned…