2023 predictions thread
Discussion
As we are only 6 weeks away from launch and testing, felt it was a good time to get the wild speculation going! 
With Redbulls advantage from the previous couple of years well cemented they have to be nailed on favourites, but I think Mercedes will now be able to have a proper stab at contesting more than one win. I can actually see a situation where the stronger Mercedes driver line up gives them the WCC and Redbull take the WDC.
I can't see anything other than a full Ferrari implosion.
McLaren to be best of the rest.
With Redbulls advantage from the previous couple of years well cemented they have to be nailed on favourites, but I think Mercedes will now be able to have a proper stab at contesting more than one win. I can actually see a situation where the stronger Mercedes driver line up gives them the WCC and Redbull take the WDC.
I can't see anything other than a full Ferrari implosion.
McLaren to be best of the rest.
Alonso's relationship with Aston Martin will begin to deteriorate during a less than spectacular first test.
It will develop into the usual passive/aggressive pattern so beloved by the Spaniard by race two.
He'll leave the team at the end of the year. To their relief. He will blame them for the debacle.
It will develop into the usual passive/aggressive pattern so beloved by the Spaniard by race two.
He'll leave the team at the end of the year. To their relief. He will blame them for the debacle.
If Max has to actually work at keeping the lead then I can see him coming together with others more often and then blaiming them as they didn't vanish into a puff of smoke as he "sends it" down the inside.
I just pray that we get a situation where the top 3 teams are fighting for the lead on a regular basis, no point in changing the cars so much that they can follow each other if 1 team is miles a head in terms of pace.
I just pray that we get a situation where the top 3 teams are fighting for the lead on a regular basis, no point in changing the cars so much that they can follow each other if 1 team is miles a head in terms of pace.
Blib said:
Alonso's relationship with Aston Martin will begin to deteriorate during a less than spectacular first test.
It will develop into the usual passive/aggressive pattern so beloved by the Spaniard by race two.
He'll leave the team at the end of the year. To their relief. He will blame them for the debacle.
Beat me to it, came here to post exactly that!It will develop into the usual passive/aggressive pattern so beloved by the Spaniard by race two.
He'll leave the team at the end of the year. To their relief. He will blame them for the debacle.
Ocon and Gasly to take each other out several times this season.
Verstappen to dominate this season even more than last year and have it all sewn up in record time.
Kevin Magnusson to go back to being an idiot and for Guenther Steiner to have more Drive to Survive levels of screaming at him and Hulkenberg
The Mercedes to be an absolute dog again and for Hamilton to seriously think about retirement
Sainz to make more stupid mistakes at the start of the season and Ferrari to implode and he becomes the scape goat.
Alonso to utterly destroy Lance Stroll in terms of performance. He will also realise this is his last chance in F1 so won't actually fall out with Stroll Snr.
Verstappen to dominate this season even more than last year and have it all sewn up in record time.
Kevin Magnusson to go back to being an idiot and for Guenther Steiner to have more Drive to Survive levels of screaming at him and Hulkenberg
The Mercedes to be an absolute dog again and for Hamilton to seriously think about retirement
Sainz to make more stupid mistakes at the start of the season and Ferrari to implode and he becomes the scape goat.
Alonso to utterly destroy Lance Stroll in terms of performance. He will also realise this is his last chance in F1 so won't actually fall out with Stroll Snr.
Well for my prediction for 2024 to come true (see the 2024 thread for my wild speculation) I need this to happen in 2023.
Me on the 2024 thread said:
The 2023 season starts and it's a 3-team fight at the top, with Ferrari, Merc and Red Bull all very evenly matched. In an effort to secure top spot and stop any infighting, Fred comes straight out and names Charles as the team's number 1 driver. Carlos doesn't like or accept this, and carries on fighting (over ruling team strategy calls during races, etc.) to achieve the best results he can. Internal tension threatens to completely implode the team and it's announced that Carlos will be leaving the team at the end of the year "by mutual agreement".
Trevatanus said:
Hamilton will again be beaten by Russell and retire at the end of the season, with M Schumacher taking his seat.
That's my prediction too, either he has a blinder and retires having beaten Michael's World Championship record, or is beaten by Russell and retires to avoid moving to a midfield team.Red Bull still competitive.
Mercedes to have made a big leap to be within a tenth or 2 on race pace, enough to reliably beat the Ferrari. Hamilton to beat Russell by at least 50 points.
Ferrari to continue to qualify well, but utterly implode as a result of the Merc pressure and the change in leadership etc.
McLaren to have made a jump and despite being comfortably 4th quickest at the start, by mid season will be worrying Ferrari in the race, and will ultimately pip them to 3rd in the constructors amidst a smattering of Ferrari senior team members also coincidentally deciding to end their long careers with the team for unspecified but definitely unrelated reasons.
Stroll to be weirdly not that far off Alonso initially, which Fred will blame on his car not being equal. This will cause some things to be said, and Stroll Snr will give a moodily lit straight to camera rebuttal of such ridiculous claims. Alonso will continue to allude to his car being deliberately hamstrung, despite him now performing consistently better than Stroll, and will quietly attribute his infrequent troubling of the top 10 on this fact. Aston to finish 8th and Stroll to announce plans to sell to Andretti / GM at some point ready for 2026.
Gasly to be on Ocon's pace by the 4th race, with fireworks to follow.
Williams / Haas to continue doing Williams / Haas things, Albon to do the best of those 4.
Mercedes to have made a big leap to be within a tenth or 2 on race pace, enough to reliably beat the Ferrari. Hamilton to beat Russell by at least 50 points.
Ferrari to continue to qualify well, but utterly implode as a result of the Merc pressure and the change in leadership etc.
McLaren to have made a jump and despite being comfortably 4th quickest at the start, by mid season will be worrying Ferrari in the race, and will ultimately pip them to 3rd in the constructors amidst a smattering of Ferrari senior team members also coincidentally deciding to end their long careers with the team for unspecified but definitely unrelated reasons.
Stroll to be weirdly not that far off Alonso initially, which Fred will blame on his car not being equal. This will cause some things to be said, and Stroll Snr will give a moodily lit straight to camera rebuttal of such ridiculous claims. Alonso will continue to allude to his car being deliberately hamstrung, despite him now performing consistently better than Stroll, and will quietly attribute his infrequent troubling of the top 10 on this fact. Aston to finish 8th and Stroll to announce plans to sell to Andretti / GM at some point ready for 2026.
Gasly to be on Ocon's pace by the 4th race, with fireworks to follow.
Williams / Haas to continue doing Williams / Haas things, Albon to do the best of those 4.
Smollet said:
Norris to win two GPs
I hope so, I think that boy has some serious potential and that Daniel Ricciardos performance last year was a more accurate reflection of where the McLaren actually was. I really hope McLaren build something decent for this year, but with Siedel off to Sauber there may be too much initial disruption to allow that to happen. Hope to be proven wrong.
MV to be challenged and go back to his full on move or we crash mode
SP to stop playing the team game, but only to the extent that he doesn't get replaced by DR, DR to be in the race seat for 24
LH to get his 8th Championship, then consider moving on, only to stay
GR to be right behind LH, getting wins, repeat of the LH/NR years but not with the bad taste for either of them.
Red Bull to have broken the cost cap again
Ferrari, usual implosion, poor strategy, general failings
Everyone else making up the numbers with a tight midfield, McLaren to come out best of the rest
SP to stop playing the team game, but only to the extent that he doesn't get replaced by DR, DR to be in the race seat for 24
LH to get his 8th Championship, then consider moving on, only to stay
GR to be right behind LH, getting wins, repeat of the LH/NR years but not with the bad taste for either of them.
Red Bull to have broken the cost cap again
Ferrari, usual implosion, poor strategy, general failings
Everyone else making up the numbers with a tight midfield, McLaren to come out best of the rest
Orange Jesus will win the title but cause controversy along the way by ranting about Perez, colliding with Hamilton, Sainz and Leclerc, being given dubious favours from Race Officials.
Perez to make strong statement at start of season about challenging for the title before being quietly reminded he’s just there to hold up the rest.
Lewis, George, Lando will all win a GP
Zhou, Albon and Stroll to have at least one podium finish
FIA will f
k up at least one safety car finish shenanigans
Everyone will be bored of Alonso’s dramas by race three
WEC to be far, far more interesting and enjoyable
Perez to make strong statement at start of season about challenging for the title before being quietly reminded he’s just there to hold up the rest.
Lewis, George, Lando will all win a GP
Zhou, Albon and Stroll to have at least one podium finish
FIA will f
k up at least one safety car finish shenanigans Everyone will be bored of Alonso’s dramas by race three
WEC to be far, far more interesting and enjoyable
Speed Badger said:
Well given Alonso has left them, I expect Alpine to be right up the sharp end winning races this year.
Yes but Occon will still find a way to crash into his team mate on several occasions and drop the team down by at least 2 positions in the manufactures championship by the end of the season - bonehead Occon and his massive ego!Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff