F1 2023: Biggest takeaways from a record-breaking season

On one hand, there'll be those who could do nothing but admire Max Verstappen’s historic record-breaking run to a third consecutive World Championship.

On the other a group ardent in their belief this has been one of the most ‘boring’ title races of the modern era with little to no stakes throughout. Regardless of where you stand on the matter and putting the rhetoric to one side, there’s no denying there have been plenty of intriguing storylines, unpredictable battles and record-breaking feats to whet the appetite over the course of the year.

So with the new year upon us and a whole new F1 season to look forward to now seems as good a time as any to reflect on all the twists and turns from the world’s greatest racing championship in 2023.

The biggest talking point is of course F1’s dominant Dutchman. The 26-year-old finished the year on top with one of, if not THE most dominant performances in F1’s long illustrious history. The records tumbled as the season went on with Verstappen eventually finishing with 19 wins from the 23-race campaign, breaking his own record set in the previous year.

He also set new records for most points in a single season with 575, most consecutive wins with 10, highest race win percentage with 86%, most laps in the lead with 1003, biggest points gap to second place with 290 and the list goes on. There are plenty more to add to that already long list and at this point there surely aren’t many records left that Verstappen hasn’t broken.

Unsurprisingly, the best online bookmakers have Verstappen as the favourite at 2/7 to win next year’s Driver’s Championship. He has been phenomenal yet again and the racing world waits with baited breath to see if he can reclaim his championship crown in 2024. One thing’s for sure, it’s going to take something truly special.

As much as his Red Bull teammate dominated the headlines in 2023, a lot can be said for the progress Sergio Perez made in 2023. The Mexican has improved year on year since joining up with Red Bull in 2021 and achieved his best ever placing in the Drivers’ Championship this season finishing second to complete a Red Bull one two.

He recovered from a blip in the middle of the season to finish well and demonstrate the grit and determination that made him Verstappen’s closest competitor this year. The 33-year-old may have only chalked up two wins this campaign but considering the nature of Verstappen’s dominance it would be foolish to dismiss the credibility of that tally.

It is unlikely that the Dutchman will match the standards set this term and should he falter at any stage in 2024 the responsibility to pick up the pieces will likely fall to Perez and Red Bull’s seasoned tacticians.

While the top of the table has offered some truly astonishing storylines, there has still been a fair share of action for F1 fans to sink their teeth into slightly further down the standings.

The F1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships may have been all wrapped up by the halfway stage of the season, the battle for second in both standings has been one for the ages and provided plenty of entertainment in lieu of a proper title fight.

Mercedes and Ferrari went blow for blow throughout the campaign with the battle for second in the Constructors’ Championship coming down to the very last lap of the season. Ferrari had the lead by just two points before a five-second time penalty was handed to Sergio Perez, giving Geroge Russell the podium finish and with it the decisive points to secure Mercedes second spot.

It was an enthralling contest between the two sets of drivers throughout the year as Lewis Hamilton recovered well from a poor 2022 while Carlos Sainz provided stability in Ferrari’s bid for second place.

Both George Russell and Charles Leclerc were the wildcards for their teams, making costly mistakes at crucial intervals that lost both teams podiums and points throughout the campaign.

There’s plenty of talent in both teams and if they can cut the unforced errors out for next season then they will be in a stronger position to compete with the might of Red Bull.

As for next season - 2024 and the 74th running of the FIA F1 World Championship, it is hard to make an argument for anyone to challenge Verstappen’s dominance after the season he has had. That’s not to say there aren’t a vast array of potential storylines that we would all love to see play out in 2024.

F1 fans would all love a re-run of 2021’s infamous contest between Hamilton and the Dutchman to see if the Brit could secure a record eighth World title; maybe Leclerc or Russell manage to find some much-needed consistency to emerge as unlikely contenders; or maybe even Oscar Piastri steps into the limelight after a remarkable rookie year for McLaren.

Whether any of it comes to fruition we will have to wait and see but for now it appears a pretty daunting task to knock Verstappen off his perch.