The 73rd edition of the Formula One World Championship, considered the top-level competition for open-wheel racing cars by the Federation of International Automobile (FIA), occurred in the United Kingdom in 2022.
The championship consisted of twenty-two Grands Prix held in various locations worldwide. The tournament concluded earlier than in previous years to avoid any overlap with the FIFA World Cup. This year the World Championship is set to start less than two weeks after Bahrain Grand Prix.
The 2023 Formula One season is approaching, and pre-season testing began in Bahrain on Thursday. Max Verstappen, a two-time world champion, set the fastest time in both sessions with 1:32:837, making him the event talk. There are many other topics of discussion to delve into from the first day of pre-season testing.
Max Verstappen, the current Drivers’ Champion, won his second title at the Japanese Grand Prix. At the same time, Red Bull Racing claimed their fifth World Constructor Championship and their first since 2013 at the United States Grand Prix that followed. Mercedes was the reigning Constructors’ Champion. Sebastian Vettel, who had won the World Championship four times, was in his final season. Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time World Champion, had a challenging season with Mercedes and failed to secure either a pole position or a Grand Prix win. This was the first time he had experienced this in his Formula One career since he started in 2007.
Top Performers
Max Verstappen
The season has been exceptional in many respects, with Max Verstappen dominantly winning his second World Championship. He showcased his adaptability by winning races from the back of the grid, but his behavior in Brazil caused some negative publicity for him and Red Bull.
Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc had a mixed season with Ferrari, demonstrating that the team needs to improve as much as he does. He made some mistakes, notably in Barcelona and France, but could have clinched second place in the championship if Ferrari had been more composed at critical moments. Nonetheless, he finished the season strongly by joining the runner-up position, showing his potential as one of the fastest one-lap drivers.
Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez experienced a rollercoaster of highs and lows, achieving his first-ever pole position, two race wins, and nine podiums. However, he was frequently overshadowed by his teammate Verstappen and struggled to match his pace on most tracks. If Perez can transfer his form from street circuits to other ways, he could challenge for the championship, but it may be challenging to do so while sharing a team with Verstappen.
Championship 2023 Odds for F1 Drivers
The 2023 Formula One season is set to begin with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 3. Max Verstappen, who won his second consecutive championship with a massive margin of 146 points in 2022, is expected to dominate again with similar regulations.
Red Bull, which also won the Constructors’ Championship last year, will aim to continue their success. At the same time, Ferrari and Mercedes will try to improve from their disappointing performance in the previous season. Red Bull had a dominant season in 2022, winning their first constructors’ championship since 2013 under Christian Horner’s leadership.
Formula 1 is among the most significant and highly anticipated auto racing championships globally. As we get closer to the F1 world championship 2023, betting markets are increasing with exciting offers and bonuses for F1 racing fans.
There may be a number of F1 racing fans that will either be looking to enhance their experiences of the motorsport or be looking to wager for the first time. For those, then visiting the best betting sites the UK has to offer can be a positive step, as it can help to provide a number of good odds, a range of offers, or bonuses.
During the break between seasons, bettors can place bets on upcoming F1 races. Future odds for such large-scale events are usually available weeks or months in advance, and it’s up to bettors to decide whether they want to place bets so far ahead or keep an eye on the overall situation.
The new 2023 Formula One season is about to start, with the driver lineups and calendar confirmed and the new car liveries revealed. Max Verstappen is highly favored to win his third consecutive title with -140 odds, while Red Bull is expected to repeat as constructors’ champions with even money odds.
Despite Lewis Hamilton’s struggles during parts of the previous season, he is still considered a strong contender. He is currently second in the betting odds at +333, followed by Charles Leclerc at +500 and George Russell, Hamilton’s teammate at Mercedes, at +800.
One reputable operator predicts that George Russell from Mercedes and Charles Leclerc from Ferrari is expected to compete with Verstappen and Hamilton this season and are priced at 5/1 each. This is a good value for Leclerc, mainly since he finished in second place last season.
Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez are considered long shots at +2500. However, they could still represent good value, especially in the case of Perez. Despite incurring cost cap violations in 2022 and having limited time for wind tunnel tests, Red Bull may still emerge as the dominant team this season.
F1 Championship 2023 season Predictions
Although Red Bull had less wind tunnel time due to breaching cost cap regulations in 2022, it is unlikely that any team will be able to outperform them, particularly Max Verstappen, in the upcoming 2023 Formula One season.
However, with their strong performance in the second half of last season, especially Lewis Hamilton due to his extensive experience, Mercedes could give Red Bull a run for their money.
Ferrari, with new team principal Frédéric Vasseur, will also be worth watching. Vasseur previously did well at Alfa Romeo, a team that had limited success in recent years.
Final Thoughts
While there is some discussion around the odds of the other drivers in the 2023 F1 Drivers Championship, there is no doubt that Max Verstappen is the clear favorite to win. It will be challenging for anyone to beat him, but it will largely depend on the performance of Mercedes and whether Ferrari can improve and help Charles Leclerc become a real contender. Meanwhile, racing fans are also anticipating a comeback from Lewis Hamilton this season, with the odds firmly putting him in second position. Nevertheless, the 2023 F1 World Championship will be full of thrilling competitions and exciting turnarounds.