Teams are ever closer to creating reliable single-seaters. However, driver error can still occur, especially if we are talking about rookies making their first approach to an F1. With such complex single-seaters, the slightest error can be costly, especially with more serious accidents. Once the season is over, with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix so let's see which teams paid the most and who the drivers caused the most damage in 2023.
The most expensive is Sargeant, behind him Sainz and Perez
The ranking of the drivers who cost their teams the most in detail can be found on Reddit, drawn up by basspro24chevy and confirms what was already anticipated in the mid-season statistics. The most expensive driver is the rookie Logan Sargeant with an amount of 4.333.000 euros in damages. The most costly accidents for the team and for Logan came in Japan and Holland. The American driver gained one point in the standings in his first year, but the comparison with Albon, in terms of points in the standings and the amount of damage could put it at risk for the 2024.
The topic of costs related to accidents It's back in vogue especially at weekends in Las Vegas, Where Carlos Sainz following the impact with a poorly secured manhole he suffered damages amounting to more than 1 million euros. There Ferrari appealed to the FIA and the organizers of the Grand Prix, attributing responsibility for what happened and requesting compensation for damages. Damages which further increased in Abu Dhabi, taking Sainz from tenth to second in the "destroyers" ranking with a total of 3.644.000 euros. Leclerc "gets away" with 1.914.000 euros. His heaviest accident was the one in Holland which cost him 53% of the seasonal damage.
In third place in the ranking is Sergio Perez, who was affected by the accident in Monaco, the most costly for the Mexican as well as for the Red Bull and he spent 3.224.000 euros in Perez's accidents. On the other side of the pits, in fact, the damage of MaxVerstappen, who never retired in 2023 are irrelevant enough to make him the last driver in the ranking with 345.000 euros.
Immediately before Max we find George Russell, Valtteri Bottas, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. These are the only pilots not to have reached the million mark.
Among the manufacturers, Mercedes and Alfa Romeo are the best
Among the destructive manufacturers, the situation sees Williams, Ferrari and Alpine on the podium of the teams with the most damage. Williams secured the lead for the second year in a row. Haas fared better, fourth this year. Last year the American team had to deal with Mick Schumacher's many costly accidents. Perez's accidents put Red Bull in seventh place. While the teams with the least damage are Mercedes and Alfa Romeo, the only ones under the overall threshold of 2 million euros.
