Source: REUTERS/HAMAD I MOHAMMED
[Saba Sports News] In a recent episode of The Race’s F1 podcast, Sean
Kelly and Edd Straw discussed and summarized the key aspects of the 2023 F1
season. They highlighted four significant points. Fernando Alonso’s Strong
Performance: Despite being 42 years old, Fernando Alonso showcased his enduring
talent and ranked fourth in the driver standings. He achieved eight podium
finishes, demonstrating that he is still a competitive force in Formula 1.
Mercedes’ Unyielding Philosophy: The Mercedes team adhered to an inflexible
approach, attributing all their problems in the 2022 season to mistakes and
disregarding the drivers’ concerns about the car’s instability in corners. This
uncompromising philosophy led to challenges for the team. Oscar Piastri’s
Impressive Skills: Oscar Piastri demonstrated exceptional problem-solving
abilities and never lost a qualifying battle against his teammate Lando Norris.
Piastri made seven successful overtakes on Norris during races, highlighting
his strong racecraft. Sergio Perez’s Lap Speed: Sergio Perez faced a crisis of
confidence during the season, as he only started in the top four once and
failed to reach the third qualifying session on nine occasions. In contrast,
his teammate Max Verstappen won the F1 championship in a car with identical
configuration, emphasizing Perez’s struggle to match his teammate’s pace.