Winners & Losers of Formula 1 in 2023 | F1 Season Review | Grid Walk Dec 21, 2023

This is the second of the three Grid Walk F1 2023 Season review episodes! This week Briana and Nicole breakdown the performance of the F1 teams by looking at qualifying data from the season.

It was a surprise to no one Red Bull was the best. Did Red Bull build the most dominant F1 car ever?

Rewind to the beginning, Aston Martin seemed like the F1 team that could compete with Red Bull. When it came to qualifying, was the Aston Martin or Ferrari F1 team the (second) fastest?

Then F1 teams begin to introduce upgrades. Mercedes abandoned the “no sidepods” concept but did it help? Where did Mclaren really begin to pick up pace? How did things get better for Williams?

That the end of the F1 season had plenty of chaos. Lewis Hamilton worked his magic and Mercedes had some good moments. How does Alpine see the consequences of firing everyone?

Grid Walk talks about the stories across the entire F1 grid. Looking at the back of the grid (Haas, Alfa Romeo, Alpha Tauri, Williams), which car was the worst? How many times were these F1 teams the slowest car on the grid?

Briana and Nicole give an overview of the F1 grid’s performance. What F1 teams were the most surprising? What F1 teams are going into 2024 with the best vibes?

Be Our Friend and Follow Us!

Instagram & Threads: https://www.instagram.com/gridwalkshow/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gridwalkshow

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gridwalkshow

00:00 Formation Lap

04:38 Red Bull

08:48 Blooper

08:59 Data Overview

11:24 Beginning of the F1 Season

24:12 Upgrade Season

36:15 End of the F1 Season

41:50 Blooper

42:11 Season Overview

42:29 Mercedes

43:26 Ferrari

45:44 Mclaren

46:43 Aston Martin

48:23 Alpine

50:59 Worst F1 Car of 2023

58:35 Biggest Surprise of 2023

01:04:43 Best Vibes Going Into 2024

**Dominance of Red Bull**

* Red Bull's dominance in the 2023 Formula One season was unprecedented, with the team winning 17 out of 22 races and securing both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships.
* Their car was perfectly suited to the new regulations, emphasizing race pace and minimizing the impact of qualifying.
* Red Bull's pit stops were flawless, and their strategy decisions were generally spot-on, allowing them to overcome any potential setbacks.
* The team's reliability was also exceptional, with no DNFs throughout the entire season.

**Team Performance Analysis**

* To evaluate team performance, the podcast hosts analyzed qualifying data, dividing the season into three stages: pre-Spain, upgrade season, and the final seven races.

**Stage 1: Pre-Spain (Races 1-6)**

* Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Alpine emerged as the surprise performers in the early stages of the season.
* Aston Martin's strong start was particularly notable, with the team briefly challenging Red Bull for supremacy.
* Ferrari's qualifying pace was impressive, despite their struggles on race day.
* Mercedes had a mixed start, showing glimpses of speed but also experiencing setbacks.
* McLaren and Williams struggled in the early races, with McLaren suffering from reliability issues and Williams languishing at the back of the grid.

**Stage 2: Upgrade Season (Races 7-12)**

* Williams made a significant leap forward during upgrade season, moving from the 10th-slowest team to the sixth-fastest.
* McLaren also showed marked improvement, jumping from seventh to second in terms of average qualifying position.
* Alpine maintained their solid form, while Aston Martin experienced a slight decline.
* Mercedes continued to struggle, failing to capitalize on their upgrades.

**Stage 3: Final Seven Races (Races 13-22)**

* McLaren's strong form continued in the final part of the season, with the team consistently challenging for podium finishes.
* Aston Martin's struggles persisted, with the team dropping out of contention for regular podiums.
* Alpine's performance remained stable, with the team securing a few more podiums.
* Mercedes showed signs of improvement, but they were still unable to match the pace of Red Bull and Ferrari.

**Overall Team Performance Summary**

* Red Bull: Unmatched dominance throughout the season, with a car that was perfectly suited to the new regulations.
* Ferrari: Strong qualifying pace, but struggled to translate it into race-day success.
* Mercedes: A disappointing season, with the team failing to challenge Red Bull and Ferrari consistently.
* McLaren: A remarkable turnaround after a poor start, with the team emerging as a regular podium contender.
* Alpine: Solid and consistent performance throughout the season, with the team securing several podium finishes.
* Aston Martin: A promising start faded away, with the team struggling to maintain their early-season form.
* Williams: A significant improvement from the previous season, with the team scoring points regularly and even challenging for podiums on occasion.

**Upgrade Season Performance Analysis**

* Aston Martin:
* Early drop in pace after technical directive in Spain
* Upgrade struggles and decline in performance
* Rapid drop from 3rd to 8th fastest team

* Mercedes:
* Consistent increase in pace throughout upgrade season
* About a race behind in bringing upgrades
* Positive trajectory despite being overshadowed by McLaren

* McLaren:
* Dramatic improvement in upgrade season
* Overshadowed by Aston Martin's narrative
* Positive progression and impressive performance

* Alpha Tauri and Alfa Romeo:
* Fade to the back during upgrade season
* Consistent non-existence in terms of performance

**End of Season Trends**

* Red Bull dominance continues, leading to decreased motivation for upgrades
* General sense of chaos and unpredictability
* Mercedes improves, jumping ahead of McLaren in average qualifying pace
* Aston Martin's further decline, matching Alpha Tauri's average qualifying pace
* McLaren's drop-off, raising questions about maintaining momentum
* Ferrari catches up to Red Bull in qualifying pace
* Alpha Tauri's resurgence and impressive turnaround

**Team Performance Takeaways**

* Mercedes:
* Surprising P2 finish despite never averaging above 3.6 in any season phase
* Lewis Hamilton's exceptional race-day performance
* Ferrari:
* Closing the gap to Red Bull in qualifying
* Positive signs despite reliability and strategic issues
* Need for consistent strategic success
* McLaren:
* Drop-off in performance at the end of the season
* Uncertainty about maintaining momentum in the next season
* Aston Martin:
* Decline worse than expected, despite highlights in Brazil and Qatar
* Overestimation of improvement
* Alpine:
* Underwhelming performance as a works team
* Inability to act like a top team
* Frustrating lack of progress
* Williams, Alpha Tauri, Alfa Romeo, and Haas:
* Analysis of qualifying performance and comparison
* Alfa Romeo deemed the worst car of the season

**Surprises of the 2023 Season**

* McLaren's resurgence and impressive performance
* Aston Martin's rapid decline
* Ferrari's improvement in qualifying pace

**Prevailing Vibes in the 2023 Formula One Season and Anticipation for 2024**

**Surprise of the Season:**

* Fred Vasseur's impact on Ferrari's operations was noticeable, showcasing his ability to bring about positive changes in a relatively short period.

* Ferrari's Improved Operations and Team Dynamics: Despite not competing for the championship, Ferrari showed remarkable progress in their operational efficiency and decision-making. The team's pit stops were significantly cleaner and quicker, leading to reduced instances of strategic blunders. The team's overall communication and cohesion seemed to improve under the leadership of Fred Vasseur.

**Team with the Best Vibes Heading into 2024:**

* McLaren: McLaren's PR and marketing team has skillfully managed the team's narrative, creating a positive perception despite their on-track performance. The team's charismatic drivers and a strong administrative team contribute to the positive atmosphere within the team.

* Mercedes: Mercedes is showing signs of change and determination, with Toto Wolff, Lewis Hamilton, and George Russell expressing frustration and a desire for improvement. The team's commitment to addressing issues and introducing a significantly different car for the upcoming season generates optimism.