Formula 1 Recap – Best Race, Best Overtake And Best Team of 2023

The Formula 1 season was largely dominated by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen breaking records almost at every apex.

The Dutch driver won 19 Grand Prix, led 1003 laps, and scored 10 consecutive wins on his way to a third world championship. Verstappen beat his record of most points in a season, scoring 575 points out of possible 620.

Other drivers shone in 2023 too, namely Fernando Alonso, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, and a few others. We’re recapping the best moments of the season, and highlighting the best race, best overtake, and best team of 2023.

Best Race

The Singapore Grand Prix was undoubtedly the most exciting race of the season and therefore deserves the title of best race. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was the only non-Red Bull driver to claim the chequered flag in 2023, and his superb drive under the lights showed his mettle.

Sainz grabbed the pole after Verstappen took a grid penalty and was demoted to 11th on the starting grid. The Spaniard led from the start and saw out the race, but it was hardly that easy.
Singaporeans were handed a treat with four cars battling for the win in the closing stages of the race. Sainz was put under pressure by Mercedes’ George Russell, with Lewis Hamilton also looking strong in the race.

However, Sainz’s former teammate Lando Norris was also in the mix, and he placed his papaya McLaren between Sainz and Hamilton after Russell crashed out spectacularly after pushing too hard. F1.com said: “Sainz was praised for dropping back in the closing stages to ensure Norris could pick up DRS with which to defend from George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
It ended in a famous win for the Ferrari driver.

Best Overtake

Fernando Alonso had an incredible year notching up eight podium finishes and securing fourth place in the drivers’ championship. The Spaniard secured third place in the Brazilian Grand Prix in the most dramatic fashion with a last-gasp overtake on Sergio Perez.

The two Latin drivers had been tussling in the closing stages of the race and the duo swapped places on the penultimate lap as Alonso regained third place at Turn 4.

Another pass from Perez on the last lap meant the two-time world champion tried a hail mary by forcing the Mexican driver onto the tighter line through the penultimate corner on the run-up to Juncao.

It was then a straight drag race to the finish line and Alonso pipped Perez by 0.053s.

Best Team

The world champion might get all the plaudits, but the constructors’ championship means more to teams as the prize money goes a long way to investment and other factors. There can be no denying that Red Bull was superb this season. From strategy calls, pit stops and having the best designer on the grid: Adrian Newey.

The Milton Keynes-based team scored nine fastest pit stops in 2023 and their RB19 will go down in history as one of the great Formula 1 cars.

Sean Parker

Sean Parker is a motorsport journalist and sports content creator at The South African. He has worked for the country's premier motoring publications, and is a Formula 1 contributor to Bet.co.za, the Bet Central podcast, and Vision View Sports radio.