Teammates Head to Head | 2023 F1 Season Review | Grid Walk December 14, 2023

Grid Walk kicks off its first of three F1 season reviews! This week Briana and Nicole discuss the battles between F1 driver teammates based on their performance throughout the 2023 F1 season.

The first F1 teammates discussed are Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Does George Russell have things to prove? Which Mercedes driver performed better on qualifying vs. race day?

Without a doubt, Oscar Piastri proved to be the rookie F1 driver of the year! How does Oscar Piastri compare to other rookies in F1 history?

It was another rollercoaster season for Ferrari finishing P3 in the F1 Constructors' Champions. Was there a major difference in pace between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz? Which Ferrari driver performed better on a street vs permanent circuit?

The popularity of F1 continues to grow. Grid Walk chats about Google trends and which drivers were the “most searched” this year. Which F1 drivers were the most popular on Google?

Before the start of the F1 season, there was a lot of speculation of potential on track drama between Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly at Alpine. However, there seemed to be more drama off track for Alpine this year. What are the takeaways from the Alpine pace?

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00:00 Formation Lap

03:12 Mercedes Drivers Head to Head

16:14 Oscar Piastri's Rookie Season & Rookies of History

28:37 Ferrari Drivers Head to Head

39:16 Driver Popularity

55:14 Alpine Drivers Head to Head

* This episode of Gridwalk focuses on the 2023 Formula One season, with a particular emphasis on driver performances.
* The hosts, Briana L. Klein and Nicole Katz, discuss the teammate battles within Mercedes, Ferrari, and Alpine, as well as the popularity of certain drivers among fans.
* Nicole delves into the history of rookie drivers in Formula One, highlighting Oscar Piastri's impressive debut season with McLaren.

* **Mercedes Teammates:**
* Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have very different goals and approaches to the season.
* Hamilton is focused on winning races and championships, while Russell is still trying to prove himself and beat Hamilton.
* Hamilton had better on-track performance on Sundays, while Russell had better qualifying performances on Saturdays.

* **Ferrari Teammates:**
* Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had a close battle in qualifying, with Leclerc winning 18-10 over the course of the season.
* Post-Singapore, Leclerc dominated the qualifying battles, winning 6-1.
* Sainz won the only non-Red Bull race of the season, demonstrating his ability to perform when the car is good.

* **Alpine Teammates:**
* Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso had a competitive relationship, with Alonso often outperforming Ocon in qualifying and race pace.
* Alonso's experience and skill were evident throughout the season, despite his retirement at the end of the year.

* **Driver Popularity:**
* The hosts analyzed driver popularity based on search data over the past eight years.
* Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, and Lando Norris were the most popular drivers among fans.

* **Oscar Piastri's Rookie Season:**
* Nicole compared Piastri's rookie season to those of other successful drivers in Formula One history.
* Piastri finished in the points 11 times, tying with Lando Norris' rookie season.
* He scored 97 points, which is more than many other successful drivers in their rookie years.
* Piastri achieved a podium finish twice, which is a rare feat for a rookie driver.


**Ferrari Driver Performance:**
- Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had a closely contested season, with Leclerc ultimately securing more qualifying wins and a slight edge in the head-to-head battles.
- Leclerc's strong start to the season contrasted with Sainz's mid-season surge, leading to a competitive dynamic within the team.
- Both drivers faced challenges with the Ferrari car's consistency and reliability, impacting their overall results.

**Mercedes Driver Performance:**
- Lewis Hamilton and George Russell had a more straightforward season, with Hamilton maintaining his dominance in qualifying and Russell showing significant improvement in his race pace.
- The duo's strong performances contributed to Mercedes' resurgence in the constructors' championship, securing second place behind Red Bull.

**Red Bull Driver Performance:**
- Max Verstappen's dominance continued in 2023, with the Dutchman securing 15 race wins and the drivers' championship title.
- Sergio Perez played a crucial supporting role, securing podium finishes and helping Red Bull secure the constructors' championship.

**McLaren Driver Performance:**
- Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri had a solid season, with Norris showing improved race pace and management of Pirelli tires.
- Piastri, in his rookie season, demonstrated strong adaptability and potential for future growth.

**Aston Martin Driver Performance:**
- Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll had a mixed season, with Alonso delivering impressive performances while Stroll struggled for consistency.

**Alpine Driver Performance:**
- Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly had a closely matched season, with both drivers showcasing their strengths on different types of tracks.
- Ocon excelled on street and temporary circuits, while Gasly performed better on permanent tracks.

**Driver Popularity:**
- Lewis Hamilton remained the most searched driver on Google, both globally and in the United States.
- Charles Leclerc's popularity spiked in 2022 due to his championship contention but dipped in 2023.
- Fernando Alonso's popularity increased significantly in 2023, likely due to his strong performances and return to form.
- Lando Norris's popularity was lower than expected, despite his strong performances and social media presence.

* The 2023 Formula One season was filled with exciting races, intense rivalries, and unexpected outcomes.
* The hosts highlight some of their favorite races of the season, including the drama-filled British Grand Prix and the thrilling Japanese Grand Prix.
* The emergence of new talents, such as George Russell and Lando Norris, added an exciting dynamic to the season.
* The hosts also discuss some of the controversies that arose during the season, including the contentious Belgian Grand Prix and the ongoing debate surrounding the sport's cost cap regulations.

**Memorable Quotes:**

* "This season has been a wild ride, and we've loved every minute of it." - Briana L. Klein
* "The racing has been incredible, the rivalries have been intense, and the storylines have been captivating." - Nicole Katz
* "It's been so exciting to see new drivers like George Russell and Lando Norris come into their own this season." - Briana L. Klein
* "The controversies have added an extra layer of intrigue to the season, and it's been fascinating to watch it all unfold." - Nicole Katz