2023 Formula 1 Season Preview | Grid Walk Feb 23, 2023

F1 Pre-Season Testing has officially started which means this is an extra special episode of Grid Walk! Briana and Nicole take you through a 2023 Formula 1 Season Preview. They share some bold predictions and speculate what a “successful season” means for all ten teams on the grid. First, Briana mourns Lance Stroll’s participation in pre-season testing and wishes Aston Martin F1 Team gave better updates.

What does Mercedes F1 Team need to do after a lackluster 2022 Formula 1 season? Will Lewis Hamilton finally be able to end his winning drought? How will George Russell compare in his sophomore year?

Why does Scuderia Ferrari have tunnel vision when it comes to the Formula One World Constructors' Champions? Will Scuderia Ferrari change their ways and ultimately pick a number one driver between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr.?

As Oracle Red Bull Racing aims for another Formula One World Constructors' Champions, will last season’s tension between Max Verstappen and Sergio (Checo) Pérez get in the way? Could it all boil over and reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo ends up in an Oracle Red Bull Racing seat?

The future of Scuderia AlphaTauri hangs in the balance. Scuderia AlphaTauri may be sold even though it is not necessarily for sale according to Red Bull. What will happen to drivers Yuki Tsunoda and rookie Nyck de Vries if it does?

Mclaren F1 Team welcomes a new Australian driver to the grid, Oscar Piastri. Will veteran driver Lando Norris be able to handle the pressure of a new and younger teammate?

The BWT Alpine F1 Team becomes the most French it has ever been with their Francian duo of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly. Will the Alpine F1 Team be able to hold on to P4 in the Formula One World Constructors' Championship or will the childhood rivalry between Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly be the real battle to watch?

Aston Martin F1 Team also has a new face driving for them this year with Double World Champion Fernando Alonso joining the team. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top between teammates Lance Stroll (after making a strong recovery) and Fernando Alonso.

For Williams Racing, Briana and Nicole just want everyone to have a good time. Even though expectations are low, Alex Albon deserves to be happy and successful!

Haas F1 Team has a lot to prove especially with their new title sponsor. Will this new cash flow for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team from new sponsors like Chipotle Mexican Grill cause them to have a more exciting presence? Will we learn the Chipotle Mexican Grill orders of drivers Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg? Should team principal Guenther Steiner change his PR strategy?

Another team with a charismatic driver duo is Alfa Romeo F1 Team with Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas. Will Alfa Romeo's F1 car be as reliable as Zhou Guanyu’s fashion style?

Grid Walk is a weekly Formula 1 show that releases every Thursday. For daily F1 content follow @gridwalkshow on all social media platforms.

**Preseason Episode: Goals and Hopes for Each Team**

- **Mercedes:**
- Team Goal: Return to the top and challenge for the championship.
- Personal Goal: See Lewis Hamilton win a race and have a less depressing season.
- Concerns: Porpoising issues, incorrect storylines about George Russell's performance, and continued retirement rumors.


- **Red Bull:**
- Team Goal: Win both the Constructors' and Drivers' Championships, with Max Verstappen winning the latter.
- Personal Goal: Have a relatively quiet season without controversies, scandals, or cheating allegations.
- Hopes: Daniel Ricciardo's reserve driver role doesn't lead to a mid-season driver swap, especially not with Yuki Tsunoda or Nick de Vries.


- **AlphaTauri:**
- Team Goal: Finish in the top five of the Constructors' Championship.
- Personal Goal: Resolve the team's future, whether it's remaining with Red Bull or being sold to a new owner.


- **Ferrari:**
- Team Goal: Challenge for the championship and improve on their third-place finish in 2022.
- Personal Goal: See Charles Leclerc win the Drivers' Championship and Carlos Sainz Jr. perform well.
- Hopes: The team can avoid strategic blunders and reliability issues that hindered their 2022 campaign.


- **McLaren:**
- Team Goal: Continue their progress and challenge for podiums and race wins.
- Personal Goal: See Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri perform well and establish themselves as future stars.
- Hopes: The team can avoid the reliability issues that plagued them in 2022 and make a significant step forward.


- **Alpine:**
- Team Goal: Challenge for the top three in the Constructors' Championship.
- Personal Goal: Witness Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly have successful seasons and establish themselves as top midfield drivers.
- Hopes: The team can build on their strong 2022 campaign and make a genuine challenge for the top teams.


- **Aston Martin:**
- Team Goal: Improve on their ninth-place finish in 2022 and challenge for the top six.
- Personal Goal: See Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll perform well and score consistent points.
- Hopes: The team can overcome their reliability issues and make a significant step forward in performance.


- **Williams:**
- Team Goal: Continue their progress and move up the grid.
- Personal Goal: Witness Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant have successful seasons and establish themselves as midfield contenders.
- Hopes: The team can build on their improved 2022 campaign and challenge for points on a regular basis.


- **Alfa Romeo:**
- Team Goal: Improve on their sixth-place finish in 2022 and challenge for the top five.
- Personal Goal: See Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu perform well and establish themselves as top midfield drivers.
- Hopes: The team can maintain their strong form from 2022 and make a genuine challenge for the top teams.


- **Haas:**
- Team Goal: Continue their progress and move up the grid.
- Personal Goal: Witness Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg have successful seasons and establish themselves as midfield contenders.
- Hopes: The team can build on their improved 2022 campaign and challenge for points on a regular basis. **Preseason Preview of Formula One Teams and Their Goals for the 2023 Season**

**Ferrari:**

* Goal: Win the Constructors' Championship
* Challenges: Tire modeling software issues, poor decision-making, lack of communication within the team
* Recommendations: Improve tire modeling software, make decisions without consulting drivers, foster better communication within the team, set more realistic expectations

**McLaren:**

* Goal: Finish fourth in the Constructors' Championship
* Challenges: Slow car, brake problems, strained relationship with Daniel Ricciardo
* Recommendations: Fix brake problems, nurture the relationship with Lando Norris, hope for upgrades that improve the car's performance

**Alpine:**

* Goal: Stay in fourth place in the Constructors' Championship, close the gap to third place
* Challenges: Potential conflict between Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, reliability issues
* Recommendations: Avoid conflict between Ocon and Gasly, improve car reliability

**Aston Martin:**

* Goal: Move up the midfield, avoid a season of P10 finishes
* Challenges: Unproven car, Fernando Alonso's tendency to cause drama
* Recommendations: Develop a competitive car, manage Alonso's expectations

**Williams:**

* Goal: Score more than two points in a race
* Challenges: Slow car, lack of competitiveness
* Recommendations: Improve car performance, focus on consistency and reliability