This 2023 Formula 1 season has been nothing but win after win for Red Bull and their champion Dutch driver, Max Verstappen. The racer has had an extraordinary performance this season that has left him winning an impressive 19 out of 23 races, including a never-before-done 10-win streak.
Verstappen secured the final victory at the grand prix Abu Dhabi, capping off the season that saw him lead about 1,000 laps – around 75.7% of the total laps in 2023. This milestone establishes Verstappen as the first driver to achieve such a title.
Mercedes, a perennial powerhouse in F1, faces a tough reality ahead of the 2024 season.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff stated, “There is a Mount Everest to climb in order to catch up with Red Bull.”
Despite the success, Verstappen emphasized the team’s commitment to maintaining a competitive car. “We are working hard again to have a very competitive car. The other teams will be trying to beat us, but we are ready for the challenge,” Verstappen said at the Abu Dhabi race.
Ferrari’s racer, Charles Leclerc, expressed both satisfaction and disappointment. Leclerc was happy to have the second-fastest car in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi, but was disappointed in losing second place in the driver’s championship.
Famed Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton also voiced his own concerns over Red Bull potentially gaining an early advantage for next year’s season.
His echoing worries are shared by his own team, as well as teams like McLaren and their driver Lando Norris.
To add on to the record-breaking championship win, fans all over social media have shared their opinions on Red Bulls overwhelming success, pointing out that the dominance of one driver can make the sport less entertaining to viewers.
Verstappen, however, dismissed the controversy surrounding Red Bull’s dominance earlier in the season. “If you are a real fan of the sport, you should be able to appreciate a team doing very well,” he points out.
Yet, as the season progressed, Verstappen eventually recognized the need for more competition in F1, acknowledging that a single team’s domination can lead to a lack of excitement for fans.
Now, the challenges for other teams are obvious. They need to close the gap and create a more competitive environment for next year’s season.
The car itself is a concern for many teams, as Red Bull’s aerodynamic build and sleek livery are one of a kind, designed by Adrian Newey.
Newey is widely considered one of the best engineers and aerodynamicists in the sport, and is the Chief Technology Officer of the Red Bull Formula 1 Team, where he is in charge of designing Red Bulls marvels of cars.
The 2023 F1 season will undoubtedly be remembered as a ridiculously successful season for Red Bull, but for other teams will serve as a reminder of the competition that lies ahead of them.
