The wait is over. This Friday marks the start of a new Formula 1 season, the 74th world championship since 1950, and it will set a historic 23-race calendar with the third race taking place on US soil in Las Vegas. A week after Bahrain pre-season testing, all signs point to a repeat of last year’s dominance by Red Bull and its two-time champion Max Verstappen. The challenge from Ferrari and Mercedes remains, with Milton Keynes-driven Red Bull still the benchmark. The big surprise of the tests was Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin, who, if the official premiere impressions hold, could regularly fight for the top six and occasionally push for more at certain circuits.
Alonso and Sainz raise the bar
Last year brought one of the sport’s most significant regulatory overhauls, and this season aims to solidify those changes while pushing forward on technical improvements, the calendar, and the equipment lineup. Spanish fans now witness a fresh adventure for a 41-year-old Fernando Alonso in Aston Martin, a storyline that has captured headlines and energy around the paddock. Carlos Sainz is not far behind; if Ferrari delivers a strong car capable of reducing distortion, the Madrid driver will have a real chance to challenge for the title. During Bahrain’s three days of pre-season testing, Red Bull once again appeared formidable, but Maranello has kept a steady focus on closing the gap. Sainz, at 28 and entering his ninth season in F1, is in his third year with the red squad and eyes a competitive resurgence.
In the Bahrain test day, Aston Martin ranked fourth and posed a genuine threat to Mercedes, who were more cautious in presenting their new car. The team claimed faster performance in race simulations under similar conditions, challenging Ferrari’s pace relative to the test data.
The eldest driver on the grid, Fernando Alonso, remains a title contender as he begins his 20th season in F1. His energy and optimism have infused Aston Martin with a renewed spirit, pleasing his vast fan base as he continues to chase glory at every turn. Alonso now has 32 career wins carried alongside a longstanding passion for the sport.
real ‘photo’
Test times provide a rough snapshot that could shift once the lights go out for the opening race this Sunday. In the final hours, teams have been racing to bring in new parts and equipment. Mercedes surfaced as a source of doubt during testing after a hydraulic issue disrupted early sessions. George Russell finished behind Lewis Hamilton on the timing screens, with Sergio Perez and the RB19 also close behind.
After eight consecutive constructor titles in the hybrid era, Mercedes and Hamilton faced a challenging window in 2022. The team is back with a new W14 and a plan that emphasizes originality rather than copying rivals, with Mike Elliott promising a unique path to performance and a car that represents one of the most up-to-date concepts seen in pre-season play.
technical changes
Aerodynamics underwent a major rethink last year, bringing ground-effect cars back into the frame for the first time since 1982 to curb the chaotic “smoky air” that diminishes the on-track duels. The 18-inch tires return, the DRS remains, and teams must live within budget caps. Despite sweeping changes, the field dumped only about a second in pace compared with 2021, underscoring ongoing gaps between the big teams and mid-field squads. Verstappen and Hamilton’s rivalry, reigned in since 2022, remains a central storyline as the season unfolds, with Verstappen eyeing a continued streak after a record-setting run that included 15 wins across 22 races.
Teams also tackled the challenge of ground-effect handling, sometimes nicknamed the ‘porkfish’ effect, pushing FIA to adjust the setup. Cars have 15-millimeter height increases and reinforcements near the flat bottoms to curb oscillations. Minor adjustments to the anti-roll system and front wings were also made, and the minimum car weight now reflects new engine and tire requirements.
refurbished grill
The lineup features a prominent shift as Pierre Gasly joins Esteban Ocon at Alpine, creating a distinctly French pairing at the front. Gasly’s arrival marks a major milestone for AlphaTauri, and Nyck de Vries has stepped into a full-time role after a successful test partial season. Williams also integrates into the fold with a fresh year on track in Monza 2022 memories.
In addition, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo have departed from active driving roles, with Latifi and Mick Schumacher transitioning to reserve and testing duties respectively, leaving space for a new generation. Oscar Piastri stands out as a premier rookie in F1, joining Lando Norris at McLaren, while Logan Sargeant makes his full-season debut with Williams, becoming the sole American driver in the current grid.
This is the grid of F1 2023
Alfa Romeo: Valtteri Bottas, Guanyu Zhou
Alpine: Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly
AlphaTauri: Nyck de Vries, Yuki Tsunoda
Aston Martin: Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz
Haas: Kevin Magnussen, Nico Hülkenberg
McLaren: Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri
Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton, George Russell
Red Bull: Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez
Williams: Alex Albon, Logan Sargeant
Three powerhouses—Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull—hold steady rosters, as Leclerc and Sainz, Russell and Hamilton, and the Verstappen-Perez duo continue to drive the sport’s momentum. The winter period added a shakeup at the top with Mattia Binotto stepping away from Ferrari, as the team rebuilt under Frederic Vasseur’s leadership. Alfa Romeo, Sauber, and McLaren also retooled leadership, with Seidl and Stella guiding the squads, shaping the battles ahead.
registration program
The 2023 calendar sets a record for the longest season with 23 races, a notch above 2022’s schedule. The Singapore and Qatar arrangements, along with the Las Vegas Grand Prix in the United States, highlight a home run for the American stop. Sprint races will also increase to six events, reshaping weekends across the grid. While Azerbaijan, Austria, Belgium, Qatar, Austin and Brazil are among the key stops, the focus remains on a new era of racing with a further expansion anticipated in the coming years.
All 2023 Grand Prix
Bahrain GP (Sakhir) March 5; Saudi Arabia GP (Jeddah) March 19; Australian GP (Melbourne) April 2; Azerbaijan GP (Baku) April 30
Miami GP (Miami) May 7; Emilia Romagna GP (Imola) May 21; Monaco GP (Monaco) May 28; Spanish GP (Barcelona) June 4; Canadian GP (Montreal) June 18; Austrian GP (Red Bull Ring) July 2; British GP (Silverstone) July 9; Hungarian GP (Budapest) July 23; Belgian GP (Spa) July 30; Dutch GP (Zandvoort) August 27; Italian GP (Monza) September 3; Singapore GP (Marina Bay) September 17; Japanese GP (Suzuka) September 24; Qatar GP (Losail) October 8; United States GP (Austin) October 22; Mexican GP (Rodriguez) October 29; Brazilian GP (Interlagos) November 5; Las Vegas GP (Las Vegas) November 18; Abu Dhabi GP (Yas Marina) November 26