Assessment of Grid Including Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Other Drivers' Ratings for F1 2023 (Part 1)

 As the Formula 1 season of 2023 takes a break during its summer hiatus, Sky Sports F1 evaluates the drivers' displays over the initial 12 races.

Max Verstappen - Red Bull

Championship position: 1st

Rating: 9.5/10

The superlatives to depict Verstappen's performance this season are becoming scarce. The Dutch driver has attained a level that only a select few have managed to reach, clinching eight consecutive victories leading up to the summer break.

Verstappen's exceptional skill was notably evident as he secured five consecutive pole positions in qualifying sessions where his teammate Sergio Perez fell short of progressing to Q3.

His supremacy over Perez, and the rest of the competition, has been even more pronounced on race days. Demonstrating a growing sense of maturity, he adeptly evaluates the race's initial phases and executes his strategy ruthlessly.

Why not a perfect score? Verstappen has occasionally grappled with his starts, which could pose a greater challenge in a less dominant car.

Sergio Perez - Red Bull

Championship position: 2nd

Rating: 5.5/10

While Perez undoubtedly faces a challenging situation, being compared to Verstappen, the Mexican driver has endured a tumultuous period that has cast doubts on his future with the team.

Beginning the season with a strong performance, clinching victory in two out of the first four races and expressing readiness to compete with Verstappen for the championship, Perez's fortunes took a sharp downturn.

His streak of five consecutive qualifying sessions without progressing to the final part, despite having the fastest car on the grid, was a noteworthy setback, leading to only one podium finish during that stretch.

Although there was a slight improvement in Belgium where he secured second place in both qualifying and the race, the ease with which Verstappen once again asserted his dominance has left Formula 1 enthusiasts, and perhaps even Red Bull, yearning for a contender who can consistently challenge the Dutchman in the dominant car of the sport.

Fernando Alonso - Aston Martin

Championship position: 3rd

Rating: 8.5/10

Although the initial season's excitement for Alonso has diminished somewhat as Aston Martin's performance waned in the weeks leading to the summer break, it's important not to overlook the impressive resurgence of the Spaniard on the competitive end of the grid.

Alonso showcased exquisite driving skills, securing six podium finishes out of the first eight races as Aston Martin's unexpected speed surprised the paddock. He engaged in captivating battles reminiscent of his past encounters with his old rival Lewis Hamilton.

While Aston Martin seems to be losing the development race against Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren in the quest to be the best challenger after Red Bull, Alonso maintains his dominance over teammate Lance Stroll. He has been behind Stroll in a Grand Prix only once this season.

Having celebrated his 42nd birthday in July, Alonso has demonstrated enough prowess to suggest that he could prolong his presence in the sport, and during this tenure, virtually every follower of Formula 1 will hope to witness him finally clinch his elusive 33rd race victory.

Lance Stroll - Aston Martin

Championship position: 9th

Rating: 5/10

After earning significant praise for an impressive rebound from a cycling mishap prior to the season, which culminated in a sixth-place finish at the inaugural Bahrain race followed by a fourth-place finish in Australia, Stroll's trajectory has taken a downward turn.

Subsequently, he has achieved a position above ninth only twice and faced elimination from Q3 on five occasions out of seven races.

While his father Lawrence's ownership of the team ensures his seat's stability, Stroll's performance is falling far short of the mark required for a team aspiring to contend for titles.

Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes

Championship position: 4th

Rating: 8/10

Following a rather challenging 2022 season, the seven-time world champion seems to have extracted nearly the maximum potential from Mercedes' W14 car. 

After significant modifications were implemented on the problematic vehicle after the Monaco race, Hamilton has encountered a single instance of finishing beyond the top four. He secured three podium finishes during this period, which has enabled him to narrow the gap to third-placed Alonso in the drivers' standings to just one point.

The highlight of his season - a remarkable pole position in Hungary - was accompanied by a disappointing start to the race, costing him another podium. Yet, akin to Alonso, Hamilton has demonstrated that there is a substantial reserve of performance yet to be tapped.

George Russell - Mercedes

Championship position: 6th

Rating: 6.5/10

Russell's remarkable feat can be underscored by highlighting that one of Hamilton's notable accomplishments is his ability to reverse the previous season's performance dynamics and convincingly surpass his teammate.

Following an engine failure that marred an impressively strong showing in Australia, Russell has encountered difficulties in upholding the nearly flawless form he exhibited during his inaugural season with Mercedes.

His sole podium appearance this season took place in Spain, and the driver dubbed 'Mr. Saturday' has surprisingly encountered challenges during qualifying, finding himself eliminated before Q3 on four separate occasions.

While there is little uncertainty regarding Russell's potential to steer a winning car to triumph, his focus will likely be on reestablishing consistency in his performance for the remainder of the season.

Charles Leclerc - Ferrari

Championship position: 5th

Rating: 6.5/10

After contending for the title against Verstappen in the first half of 2022, 2023 has marked a return to reality for Leclerc.

Ferrari's notably erratic SF23 car has denied him opportunities, and a combination of sporadic driver errors and more frequent team strategy missteps have compounded his challenges.

Leclerc reminded everyone of his impressive pace by securing his second pole position of the season in Belgium, followed by a solid performance that earned him a third podium finish of the campaign for Ferrari.

Assessing Leclerc's performance in this season has proven to be complex, which could be a concern for Ferrari. With his contract set to expire at the end of the following season, the driver might be inclined to seek new opportunities to showcase his considerable talent more effectively.

>>> Read more: https://bquickly.blogspot.com/2023/08/mclaren-concludes-12-year-partnership.html

Carlos Sainz - Ferrari

Championship position: 7th

Rating: 6.5/10

Sainz has encountered a similarly exasperating season, struggling to capitalize on the promise he showed in the 2022 campaign.

The Spanish driver has maintained consistency, securing top-five qualifications in 10 out of 12 races. However, translating that level of performance to race days has often proven challenging.

Some of his difficulties can be attributed to unfortunate circumstances and significant tire wear on the Ferrari. Nonetheless, the frequency with which Sainz has appeared to lag behind Leclerc during races is a point of concern.

While Ferrari likely has an interest in extending Leclerc's contract, the team's level of commitment to retaining Sainz beyond the conclusion of his contract in 2024 remains somewhat uncertain.

Lando Norris - McLaren

Championship position: 8th

Rating: 8.5/10

Excluding Verstappen, Norris emerged as the standout performer in the closing month of the season before the summer break.

McLaren's tumultuous start to the season had prompted discussions surrounding Norris' potential destinations and the possibility of an early exit from his long-term contract with the team.

However, a series of comprehensive upgrades introduced to the MCL60 during the Austrian Grand Prix instigated a remarkable turnaround. Norris secured a fourth-place finish before achieving consecutive second-place finishes in the British and Hungarian Grand Prix races.

These exceptional performances, including his impressive defense against Hamilton at Silverstone, served as a vivid reminder of why Norris is consistently mentioned as the primary contender for any discussions concerning vacancies at the forefront of the grid.

Oscar Piastri - McLaren

Championship position: 11th

Rating: 8/10

With the exception of Verstappen, Norris stood out as the most remarkable performer in the final month leading up to the summer break.

McLaren's challenging start to the season triggered talks about Norris' potential destinations and the potential of an early departure from his team under a long-term contract.

However, a series of extensive enhancements introduced to the MCL60 during the Austrian Grand Prix sparked a remarkable transformation. Norris achieved a fourth-place finish before securing back-to-back second-place positions in the British and Hungarian Grand Prix events.

These outstanding displays, including his impressive defense against Hamilton at Silverstone, served as a clear reminder of why Norris consistently arises as the foremost candidate in discussions about vacancies at the forefront of the grid.