A Look Back at the Thrilling F1 2023 Season - Part 1

The 2023 season was definitely not a disappointing one for Red Bull as they clenched both the constructors championship and Drivers championship for Max Verstappen. Red Bull dominating the season with 21 out of 22 race wins in 2023, the only other driver to finish in P1 being Carlos Sainz in Singapore, the only race to not feature a Red Bull on the podium.

Bahrain 03/03-05/03

Red Bull put on a show for the first race of the season, opening the season with a bang for the team. Verstappen the current reigning world champion continued his winning streak from 2022 with an opening victory for the 2023 season. Verstappen leading his teammate to the podium with a 40-second gap. Other talks for the weekend was Aston Martin who seemed to have made strides over the winter break, Alonso finishing his debut race with the team by rounding off the podium, Alonso complementing the car over the radio, telling the team that it's a 'lovely car to drive'.

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While Aston Martin looked to have made progress over winter, McLaren looked to have taken strides backwards, with both drivers finishing below the top 15 in the first race of their 60th campaign in the sport.

Saudi Arabia 17/03-19/03

The Red Bulls traded victory, it was Perez's turn to lead his teammate to the podium, a second 1-2 for Red Bull. McLarens misfortune continued, with both drivers again completing the race outside the top 10. Meanwhile Aston Martin looking to be a strong competitor for the season as Alonso took a second podium, marking his 100th in the sport, his teammate on the other hand was forced to retire from the race with mechanical issues.

Australia 31/03-02/04

Australia was one race to not be forgotten this season, with 2 red flags, a safety car and a chaotic finish in the pit lane to complete the race. An early pit stop was brought out for Leclerc after a collision with Stroll sent the Ferrari into the gravel, later in the race the safety car was brought out for Albon after a high impact crash into the barriers at turn 7. The final red flag was brought out for Magnussen after the Haas hit the wall. At the final restart it was a frenzy with drivers making contact with one another and going off track, the two Alpine's looking to score good points went into the back of each other, the team missing out on points, Logan Sargeant was another to not make the chequered flag.

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Alpine's luck going from bad to worse after Ocon came into the pits on the final lap to find the pits flooded with reporters and spectators. As a results of the dangerous incident the stewards were summoned to plead their case. As all the chaos unfolded behind him, Verstappen remained unfazed as he once again cruised to victory for the second time out of three races.

Azerbaijan 28/04-30/04

Perez kept his title as the king of street races as he took victory for both the sprint and Sunday's race. Leclerc lined up on pole for the sprint, but it was Perez who got his elbows out and did what he does best by taking the lead back from the race. Perez took victory ahead of his teammate for what would be the last time in 2023.

Miami 05/05-07/05

Verstappen proved himself to be a force to be reckoned in, starting the race from P9 but being the first to take the chequered flag. Sergio Perez came behind his teammate in P2, Alonso completing the podium in P3 for the third time in five races. Verstappen stole the lead from his teammate in the latter stages of the race with the added advantage of new medium tyres, his teammate not standing a chance as Verstappen glided past.

Monaco 26/05-28/05

'Estie Bestie is on the podium baby'. Esteban Ocon rounded of the podium in a wet-dry Sunday in Monaco. Verstappen continued to extend his lead in the championship with win number 3 of the season, Verstappen winning by over 27 seconds from Alonso in P2. McLaren looking to make some progress with the help of their Miami upgrades, both teammates finishing in the top 10 for the first time this season.

Spain 02/06-04/06

Verstappen moved win 3 of his soon to be 10 consecutive race wins. It was a bright Sunday for Mercedes who took their first double podium for the season with Russell completing the podium in P3 after starting in P12. Perez crossed the line in P4, the Mexican driver making good progress from starting in P11.

Aston Martin dropped a place in the constructors to Mercedes, moving down into third. Alonso finishing in P7 while Stroll finished ahead in P6. Despite Sainz's front row start at his home race, the spaniard was unable to hold onto any lead as he dropped down into P5.

Canada 16/06-18/06

Verstappen helps Red Bull to set a new team record, with 100 race wins for the team since its debut in 2005. Hamilton kept the championship alive for Mercedes as he fended of Alonso for P2 on the podium. Russell going into the barriers at the exit of turn 9, soldiered on in the race until he was forced by team to retire from the race on lap 55.

Some solid battles at the back of the field between Nyk De Vries and Magnussen, the pair battling until there was no track left as the pair brought out the yellow flag as they went off into the run off area.

Austria 30/06-02/07

Another victory to add to the tally for the home hero, Verstapen making it 5 consecutive wins. Perez with a brilliant drive moved up from P15 to P3, as he battled Leclerc for P2 in the race, Leclerc being able to clinch the place up and to the chequered flag. The upgrades really began to come alive for McLaren as they aided Norris into P5.

Great Britain 07/07-09/07

Not a bad British Grand Prix for the home fans, with two Brits completing the podium. Norris started the race from P2, where he would eventually finish, Norris even getting the chance to lead the early stages of the race after he beat Verstappen for the lead going into turn 1. Hamilton was the second brit on the podium, completing the podium in p3 with another Verstappen domination.

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Nyk De Vries finished his final race in F1 in P17, making up one place in the race. After a series of poor performances De Vries was dropped after the British Grand Prix and was replaced by former Torro Rosso driver Daniel Ricciardo who seemed to have made a full circle in his career.

Hungary 21/07-23/07

McLaren certainly moved in with a dream finish in Hungary. McLarens progress over the 11 races going unnoticed as Lando completed part on of the season in P2 splitting the two Bulls on the podium. While Red Bull may have wished for a 1-2 finish, it was not a bad day for the team who made history with 12 consecutive wins for the team.

While Red Bull and McLaren looked to have had a good day in the office, the same can't be said for Alpine who once again missed out on points with bother drivers making contact and retiring out of the race. Ricciardo on his first race back in F1, completed his first race back in P13, four places ahead of his teammate Yuki Tsunoda.

Belgium 28/07-30/07

The final race before formula one headed into their summer break, Red Bull finished in style with a 1-2 lead by Verstappen, who won from P6. Verstappen qualified on pole but was hit with a 5-place grid drop followoing Qualifying, dropping the dutch driver to P6.

Verstappens job in the race was made easier on the first lap, making up two places after Piastri and Sainz running in P4 and P5 ,Ade collision, knocking both drivers out of the race. As they crossed the line it was a Red Bull 1-2 and another podium for Charles Leclerc and Ferrari.