A Look Back at the Thrilling F1 2023 Season - Part 2

With the summer break over and the championship heating up, and Red Bull looking to continue with their dominance, the 2023 resumed in the Netherlands.

Netherlands 25/08-27/08

Coming back from the Sumer break, Red Bull's dominance looks stronger than over as Max Verstappen claims victory and equalises Sebastian Vettel's record of 9 consecutive race wins.

Sudden weather changes caught some drivers out, the red flag coming out for Zhou as he went off at turn 1. The race resumed with 7 laps to go. As they crossed the line Verstappen sae it first, followed by a return of the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso on the podium. Perez was next to take the chequered flag, but it was Gasly to stand on the final podium place, after Perez was issues a 5-second penalty late in the race for speeding in the pit lane.

Italy 01/09-03/09

Moving on from the Netherlands, Monza was next up in the double header. Sainz claimed pole for Sundays race at the 'temple of speed', but the Ferrari losing pace in the race meant Verstappen was quick to take over from lap 15. Sainz losing places to both Red Bull drivers before scrapping with his teammate for the final podium position, Sainz winning the battle as he crossed the line in P3.

Hamilton was handed a 5-second penalty for a collision with Oscar Piastri on lap 43, his teammate George Russell was also handed a penalty for an incident involving Esteban Ocon Both Mercedes drivers finishing in P5 and P6 respectively, both drivers unaffected by the penalty with a safe gap between themselves and the drivers behind.

Singapore 15/09-17/09

Things really heated up in Singapore, the only race in 2023 to not feature a Red Bull on the podium. Sainz broke Verstappen's 10 consecutive race wins with a victory of his own. Norris followed his former McLaren teammate, to come home in P2, while Hamilton closely followed behind for P3. The top 4 of Sainz, Norris, Hamilton and Russell battled to the end with all drivers in contention of a victory, in the heat of the battle at turn 10 Russell made a costly mistake that handed the final podium place to his teammate.

Verstappen not looking to have been a contender in Singapore throughout the weekend as he failed to take a podium finish for the first time this season, instead finishing the race on P5.

Japan 22/09-24/09

You can't keep Verstappen of the podium for long! Verstappen returned to the top step with a 19-second lead from the 2 McLarens that accompanied him in his celebration. The two McLarens providing trouble for Verstappen as the pair remained in close proximity to the world champion throughout the race.

Five drivers were made to retire out of the race, including the two Williams, Stroll, Bottas and Perez. While Perez had retired out the race later in the race, he briefly rejoined the race to serve his 5-second penalty before heading back into the garage. While it was not a good day in the office for both Red Bull drivers, the team still had something to celebrate about, as they claimed the constructors championship in Japan.

Qatar 06/10-08/10

McLaren are back! After a slow start to the season, McLaren look to be back in the battle with both drivers completing the race on the podium. Piastri led Norris to the podium, finishing in P2 after starting in P6, while his teammate finished in P3 from P10. Verstappen in his new streak took his second consecutive win and the 2023 drivers championship, being crowned a three time world champion.

A disappointing weekend for Mercedes, who missed out on some good points, both Mercedes driver colliding with one another at the start, Hamilton going into the gravel and as a result out of the race. Russell was able to continue for the team, coming him in fourth, the Mercedes looking quick in the race. Many drivers struggled to face the weather in the race, rookie Logan Sargeant was forced to retire after the weather being too extreme for driver. Following the race many drivers opened up on just how extreme the conditions with Sergeants teammate Alex Albon were unable to get out their car. Esteban Ocon admitted how he threw up in his helmet during the race.

United States 20/10-22/10

Verstappen took his 50th win in Formula One, despite facing brake issues in the race. Hamilton came close to the Bull finishing in P2, with Norris on yet another podium in P3.

While Hamilton crossed the line ahead of Norris, Norris and Sainz were bumped up to P2 and P3 after Hamilton was disqualified from the race following the chequered flag. Hamilton and Sainz's teammate Leclerc were both disqualified following the race after tests found excessive plank wear on both the Ferrari and Mercedes.

Mexico 27/10-29/10

Next up in the final triple header of the season was Mexico City. Verstappen as expected was once again first to take the chequered flag, his teammate and home hero was forced to retire out of the race on lap 1 after contact with the Ferrari of Leclerc. Verstappen took his 16th victory of the season breaking his own previous record of 15 wins in a season.

Hamilton walked away from CoTA, fighting for championship points after two disappointing races for the Brit. At the restart following a heavy crash for Kevin Magnussen, Hamilton battled with Alonso for P2 both drivers battling each other in the championship, Hamilton was the quicker car as he claimed P2.

Brazil 03/11-05/11

Six retirements, including, Russell ,both Alpha Romeos, Magnussen, Leclerc and Albon. Verstappen continued to rebuild his streak with a 5th consecutive win, Norris adding to his list of podiums without a win in P2. Behind the front runners it all heated up on the final lap for P3, as Sainz battled with his childhood idol of Fernando Alonso, shortly displacing his idol for P3 in the race on lap 70 of 71. Alonso quick to take back the final step on Lap 71.

Vegas 16/11-18/11

It was not an easy debut for Vegas, after Fp1 was cut short after Sainz faced damage from driver over a manhole, as a result of the incident Sainz was handed an unfair penalty in the race. The manhole issue brought delays to FP2 by an hour, Fp2 then being extended from a 1hr session to an extended 1hr and 30 min session.

Verstappen made it 3 for 3 wins in the US this season, becoming the first driver to win in Vegas. The Yellow flag was brought out for Norris after a high impact crash on lap 4, Norris lucky to walk away and was taken to a nearby hospital for mandatory checks. In the closing stages it once again heated up, the battle continuing all the way to the chequered flag between Leclerc and Perez. Perez looking to make up for a series of unfortunate races, but it was Leclerc who took the lead.

Abu Dhabi 24/11-26/11

While the Driver and Constructor championship was long gone and settled, the battle remained between Mercedes and Ferrari for P2 in the constructors. Mercedes went into the weekend ahead of Ferrari, who trailed closely behind.

Verstappen won his 19th race of the season making it 19 out of 22 in 2021, Red Bull winning 21/22 of the races this season, the only over race winner being Sainz in Singapore. On the final lap Leclerc made a strategy call that would not pay off in the intended way. Leclerc's teammate running outside of the points leaving the job to Lelcerc to secure the championship. In desperation, Lelcerc handed P2 to Perez, knowing Perez had a 5-second penalty and he would inevitable get P2 back, the plan being to hold off Russell in P4 so he wouldn't finish on the podium. The plan backfired as the top 4 finished close, Russell within 5-seconds of Perez, dropping Perez to P4 and Russell on to the podium for the first time this season.