Formula 1: predictions for the new season

Predictions for the 2023 F1 season.

Biggest disappointment of the season (pilot)

When you think of the disappointments, Nick de Vries’ name could come back this season. Much has been said about the Dutch rider, who made his debut at the age of 28. Experts like Will Buxton rate him very well and even present him as a future Red Bull driver.

De Vries joined F1 aged 28 as rivals such as Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Lando Norris and Alex Albon beat him and entered F1 much earlier.

De Vries is a good driver and deserves to be in F1. Will he become a future Red Bull driver? And can he even beat teammate Yuki Tsunoda this season? There are doubts. There’s a lot of hype around the Dutch driver this season and he could disappoint a lot of people.

Biggest disappointment of the season (team)

It’s no surprise, as it looks like McLaren is one of the teams that will be hit hard at the start of the season. More often than not, teams are built on the foundations laid last season. In the meantime, McLaren is introducing Kindle technology into the car, which allows them to change sponsors every 45 seconds throughout the race. The panel weighs only 190g and they are testing the same technology on helmets.

McLaren have been on a downward spiral since their peak in 2020. The team were 3rd in 2020, 4th in 2021 and 5th in 2022, and this time McLaren are shaping up to be the disappointment of the season.

Most Improved Rider

It looks like Esteban Ocon isn’t getting the credit he deserves in the paddock. He surpassed team-mate Fernando Alonso last season, but when it comes to accolades, there aren’t many.

This season, he faces a new challenge in the person of Pierre Gasly. Looking at the growth trajectory Okon was on, it’s safe to say that the eventual victory over Gasly will be another step in elevating his reputation.

Most Improved Team

Judging by pre-season testing, Aston Martin has taken the lead. The team, in terms of performance in testing, seems to have left the middle group and made a much-needed move to the top group. Now, if this form can be maintained, we will see the real reveal of F1’s 2023 season. Whether that will happen remains to be seen, but signs point to an impressive campaign for Aston Martin.

shocking winner

Will it still be a shock if Fernando Alonso wins the race this season? Well, considering the Spaniard hasn’t won a race in ten years and Aston Martin has yet to convincingly prove its pre-season form, yes, that would be a shock.

It’s safe to say that this is still a young team with no experience of battling for the top spots. There’s still a lot to do, and while having a good car is a big step, you need a lot of other things to stay ahead all the time.

shocking pedestal

For the percussion base, we chose Lando Norris. It’s safe to say that McLaren’s technology has already disappointed. Can we expect one in 23 races to give Lando Norris a podium? It’s not the best, that’s for sure.

Winner of the Constructors’ Cup

At this point, it’s safe to say that Red Bull holds the lead over the rest at the start of the season. That said, there’s also no denying that the compromised nature of the car’s development this season due to a fine will help its competitors.

After the first 4-5 races this season, teams like Mercedes have already made a number of updates. Midway through the season, we can expect the top three teams Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes to be around the same level of performance this year.

When that happens, the fact that Mercedes has two elite drivers will count. The German team could take over in the second half of the season and claim its 9th F1 world title in 10 seasons.

F1 Champion

One of the riders to win the title this season has to have an almost perfect season. There shouldn’t be too many mistakes, there shouldn’t be car breakdowns. Every weekend should be perfect. And when you try to tick all those boxes, Max Verstappen’s name trumps everything else.