Like at school, the Formula 1 year has come to an end. For drivers, team principals and staff it's time for a well-deserved holiday, but report cards can't be missing. Let's find out who was promoted, who failed and who was sent back among the 22 drivers who raced in 2023.
Drivers' report cards 2023: de Vries and Sargeant failed
Nyck de Vries: 4. He didn't enjoy the updated post-Singapore AlphaTauri, but in just ten races he didn't show he deserved the chance.
Logan Sargeant: 5.5. A season that began with good omens, then after the summer break it was followed by a series of bad weekends, almost always punctuated by an accident. Towards the end of the season, however, the first point and a clear improvement in his performances earned him confirmation.
Liam Lawson: 7. Called at the last minute to Zandvoort to replace the injured Ricciardo, the class of 2002 took very little time to adapt to the Circus, showing no awe towards his more successful colleagues (see the qualification in Singapore or the overtaking of Verstappen in the Netherlands). With the exception of the weekend in Qatar, five more than decent weekends.
Kevin Magnussen: 6. True, the 2023 Haas was far from a good car, especially regarding tire wear in the race. But the Dane was comprehensively beaten by the returning 36-year-old Hulkenberg.
Guanyu Zhou: 6. After a clear improvement in the second part of 2022, a dull and subdued 2023, like the whole team Sauber-Alfa Romeo. He only beats his teammate Bottas when the latter runs into bad luck.
Daniel Ricciardo: 7.5rd. He had the opportunity to make up for it after his dismissal in 2022. It took him a few weekends to get used to the car and the team (also due to the injury), but once he found the right fit, the pre-McLaren Ricciardo returned.
Drivers' report cards 2023: the best in the rear
Nico Hulkenberg: 7. His last full-time season was 2019, with cars that were totally different from the current ones. From that moment, only a few appearances as a super-sub, until the call to Haas in 2023. Despite a car that wasn't up to par, the German didn't disfigure himself, grabbing a sensational front row in Canada before the penalty and fighting for the podium in the initial stages of the sprint in Spielberg. At the end he was brought closer by Magnussen, but the season can only be positive.
Valtteri Bottas: 6.5. On the few days in which Alfa Romeo shows a minimum of competitiveness, he is there.
Yuki Tsunoda: 7. Paradoxically, it shows better qualities when the car is relegated to the last places, with an excellent streak of placings close to the points. When the car improves, more satisfactory results also arrive, but a couple of them are missed due to too much enthusiasm, including the mistake in Mexico which cost the Faenza team seventh place in the constructors' championship (as well as several million Euros).
Alexander Albon: 8. Since returning to Formula 1, the number 23 has improved race after race. He single-handedly ferried the modest Williams to seventh place in the constructors' championship, showing excellent skills in qualifying, defense and tire management.
Esteban Ocon: 7. He was supposed to be Alpine's team leader after Alonso's exit, but (also due to a lot of bad luck) the good performances were not enough to beat the "newcomer" Gasly in the standings.
Pierre Gasly: 7.5. The season started slowly, but once he gained confidence with his new machine, the Frenchman put together a series of performances with talent and consistency that allowed him to beat his compatriot Ocon.
Drivers' report cards 2023: the top 10
Lance Stroll: 6th. The good performances of the last few races earned him a pass in an otherwise disappointing season which saw him struggle to get into the points while Alonso fought for the podium.
Oscar Piastri: 7.5. For a rookie, he had an excellent season. When they had the same car, the class of 2001 seemed to be on the same level as the more experienced Norris in every aspect except tire management (which he will learn with time). He also had the satisfaction of the first two podiums in Formula 1 and the only sprint victory not by Red Bull.
George Russell: 7. Considering that Hamilton finished third in the same car, Russell's season cannot be satisfactory. He often had Hamilton's speed (especially in qualifying), but he made too many mistakes in the race when it mattered, see Canada, Singapore or Las Vegas. He can and must do better.
Carlos Sainz: 8. The only driver capable of breaking Red Bull's dominance. He didn't have the speed peaks of his teammate Classic Ferrari for sale Leclerc, but he has always done his thing. It's a shame for the last two races, which saw him lose fourth place in the standings.
Lando Norris: 8. Could it be the season of consecration? It's hard to say without victories to his name. In any case, both when McLaren was sailing at the back and when it was fighting for the more noble areas, Norris always proved to be concrete and reliable.
Charles Leclerc: 8. A fluctuating season between amazing performances (Baku, Las Vegas, Abu Dhabi) and bad weekends (Melbourne, Zandvoort, Miami, Barcelona). It must be said, however, that since the updates arrived at Suzuka, his season has taken a decidedly different turn. The number 16 and all the Ferrari fans hope to be able to continue the period of form also in 2024.
Fernando Alonso: 8.5th. For the first part of the season, he was the only one to worry the Red Bull-Verstappen duo. Then, when Aston Martin's performance dropped, he too made some rare mistakes (see the sprint in Belgium or the weekend in Mexico). Despite everything, however, at 42 years old he still proved capable of fighting at the top levels and with a heroic finish he managed to hold on to fourth place. And to win the FIA “Action of the Year” award for overtaking him against Perez in Brazil.
Lewis Hamilton: 8.5. Those who thought it was finished after 2022 had to think again. With a moody car he managed to get back to pole and fight almost until the end for the title of vice world champion. Despite being almost 39 years old, with the right equipment he can still fight for victory.
Sergio Perez: 6. He had started well, with 2 victories in the first 4 races, the same as his teammate Verstappen. Then, from Sunday in Miami, emptiness. Many, too many eliminations in Q1 or Q2, to which were often added tiring comebacks. In the last few races, after intense work on the simulator, he seemed to have found the right path again, even if the overtaking suffered by Alonso and Leclerc and the penalty in Abu Dhabi did not make him have an easy time. And Verstappen is still unreachable.
Max Verstappen: 10. Before a season like his, every word is superfluous. In addition to his dominance on the track, he is also the only 10 in our drivers' report cards at the end of 2023. 19 victories, 21 podiums out of 22 races and records broken every weekend. The machine helps, but it's the right foot that makes the difference. Chapeau.
